ABILENE – Mitchell Dickson tallied a career-high five hits, a record 4,087 fans showed out at Crutcher Scott Field, and the ACU baseball team showed just how good they can be against No. 9 Texas Tech. The Wildcats (23-21) fell in a wild, 4-hour, 42-minute game, 16-12, in a game that featured 28 runs on 31 hits. ACU led 6-2, but a nine-run sixth inning propelled the Red Raiders (32-16) to the lead they would not surrender. ACU got it close multiple times late, and had the tying run either at the plate or in the on-deck circle in each of the final three innings. But Texas Tech prevailed on a night that will not soon be forgotten in the Big Country.
How It Happened
- It was actually a pitcher's dual to get it started.
Max Huffling was phenomenal against the Red Raiders yet again, tossing three scoreless to start the game. ACU got him a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when
Tanner Tweedt doubled into left center field to plate Dickson.
- The 'Cats led 3-0 after four innings due to a
Brett Hammit rbi-double to score
Hunter Gieser and a Dickson double to plate Hammit.
- Texas Tech got on the board with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, and ACU led 3-2.
-
Bryson Hill got those runs back and one more with a massive, 400-foot home run to right field. The three-run blast put ACU up 6-2.
- The top of the sixth is what swung the game towards the visitors. Tech scored nine runs on five hits in the sixth inning, including an rbi-single, an rbi-double, and a three-run home run. ACU used three pitchers in the inning, and Texas Tech led 11-6 heading to the bottom half.
- The Wildcats were not done scoring. Tweedt singled home Dickson in the home sixth to get a run back, and ACU trailed 11-7.
- After the bottom of the third for ACU, and after the top of the fourth for Texas Tech, each team scored at least one run in each half inning. The offense was on full display.
- Tech scored two in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer, but ACU responded with three in the home half to get it to 13-10. Dickson doubled in Hill, and Tatrow singled home Dickson and Gieser to get it to a three-run game.
- Tech got two more in the eighth with a sacrifice fly and an rbi-single, and the Red Raiders led 15-10. But ACU still was not done.
- Hammit got a run back with a deep sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to get it back to a four-run game at 15-11.
- Texas Tech scored on a wild pitch in the ninth, but ACU again scored in the home half on a Tatrow double. The marathon game came to an end with the tying run in the on-deck circle, and ACU falling 16-12.
Stat Pack
- Dickson led the way with a ridiculous five-hit night, setting a new career mark for the ACU catcher (designated hitter Tuesday night). The junior went 5-fo-6 with four runs scored and a pair of runs driven in.
- Tatrow had a four-hit game, matching his career-best, and drove in three runs.
- Tweedt tallied three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in a pair while scoring a run as well.
- Gieser reached base four times with a pair of hits and a pair of walks.
- Hill's one hit was a bomb that drove in three runs, his eighth home run of the season.
- Hammit drove in a two runs Tuesday night as well.
- Huffling was phenomenal again against Texas Tech, throwing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
- The crowd on hand was the most in a single game in ACU history, with 4,087 in attendance. There was standing room only available down the lines at The Crutch. Maximum capacity is 4,000 at the ballpark.
Beyond the Box Score
- The five hits for Dickson are the second time a Wildcat has done so this season; Tweedt tallied five against Marist on March 5. Five hits is the most in a game in ACU's Division I history.
- Huffling has now thrown six scoreless innings in a week against Texas Tech and has struck out 11 Red Raiders.
- The four-hour, 42-minute game is the longest game for both ACU and Texas Tech this season.
- It is the 25th game this season with double-digit hits, and the 17 is tied for the second-most in a game this season.
On Deck
- ACU hits the road to Stephenville, Texas this weekend for a three-game series at Tarleton. Friday night's game begins at 6 p.m., while Saturday's game has been moved to 2 p.m. Sunday's finale begins at 1 p.m. All three games will air on the WAC Digital Network.
Follow ACU on Social Media
Twitter:
@ACU_Baseball |
@ACUsports
Instagram:
@acu_baseball |
@acusports
Facebook:
/ACUSports
#ATO | #GoWildcats
