MESA, Ariz. – Miller Ladusau drove in a pair of runs,
Tyler Morgan struck out eight batters, but the No. 4 seed ACU baseball team fell at the hands of the West Division champion Grand Canyon Wednesday night in the opening round of the 2022 WAC Tournament. The Wildcats (26-28, 14-16 WAC) held a lead til the sixth inning, when GCU (40-17, 25-5 WAC) scored three times to take the lead they would not surrender. The Lopes held on to top ACU, 8-4, pushing the 'Cats to the elimination round on Thursday. ACU scored twice in the first inning on three hits, but mustered just two more hits the rest of the ballgame.
How It Happened
- ACU got on the board with a two-run double from Ladusau off WAC Freshman of the Year and WAC Pitcher of the Year Daniel Avitira. It was a three-hit, two-run first inning, but then the Lopes took control on the mound to limit the 'Cats.
- The Wildcats held that 2-0 lead all the way til the home fifth, when GCU got on the board with a run-scoring double.
- The sixth inning changed the game. The Lopes tied it with a single, and took the lead with a two-run single to go ahead 4-2. They did not trail again.
- ACU got a run back in the top of the seventh inning when
Mitchell Dickson drove in
Hunter Gieser with an rbi-groundout. ACU trailed 4-3.
- Grand Canyon got that run back themselves in the home seventh with a run-scoring single, and added insurance with two runs in the eighth to extend their lead to 8-3.
- Dickson launched a solo home run in the ninth inning to solidify the final score of 8-4.
Stat Pack
- Ladusau led the way with two driven in, and was one of four Wildcats to record a hit.
- Dickson tallied two hits including his fourth home run of the season.
- Morgan took the loss in his start, but was still very effective, allowing three runs on just two hits in 5.1 innings. The right-hander struck out eight Lopes as well.
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Max Huffling did not record an out, and allowed a run on two hits.
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Tanner Riley went 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing a run on two hits as well.
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Adam Byrd went 0.1 inning, allowing three earned on two hits.
-
Sam Berberich went the final 0.2 inning, allowing no runs on just one hit.
Beyond the Box Score
- Dickson's homer was first since April 8 against Sam Houston.
- Wednesday was ACU's fourth game all season outside of the state of Texas. The 'Cats are 2-2 in those games.
On Deck
- ACU will face the No. 3 seed from the West Division, Seattle U, in an elimination game on Thursday, May 26. The Redhawks fell in the first round to Lamar, 6-4. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CT (12 p.m. PT), and will air on ESPN+.
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