ABILENE – Four players drove in a run, pitching was excellent yet again, and the ACU baseball team rallied to overcome a 2-0 deficit to take the lead, then held on for a 5-4 victory over Nevada on Saturday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field. The Wildcats open 2-0 for the third time in the last four seasons, and did so even after trailing after four innings. The 'Cats took the lead in the fifth, added to the lead in the seventh, and held on in the ninth to earn the win. ACU goes for the series victory on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at The Crutch.
How It Happened
- New starter
Rolando De La Cruz showed what he can do, taking the ball and tossing the first five innings of the game. The right-hander allowed a run in the second inning on a wild pitch and gave up a solo home run in the fourth, but his offense would get him right back in it in the home fifth.
- ACU settled down against Nevada starter Jason Doktorczyk in the fifth, beginning with a leadoff single from
Tanner Tweedt.
Jake Skaggs backed that up with a single of his own, and
Maddox Miesse loaded the bags with a bunt for a hit on the left side. With no one out, it was a prime to chance to get on the scoreboard. After an infield fly,
Bash Randle stepped in and hit a grounder to short. The play was made at second for the out, a run scored, and then a wide throw at first base to try to turn two was wide and another run came across to tie it up.
- Two batters later,
Logan Britt singled up the middle to score Randle, and
Garrett Williams followed with an rbi-single of his own to give the Wildcats a 4-2 advantage.
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Drake Boggan took over on the mound and was brilliant in three innings, keeping the Wolfpack at two runs. Meanwhile, Tweedt blasted the first Wildcat homer of the year to left in the home seventh and the lead was 5-2.
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Max Huffling took over in the ninth, and despite a two-run home run, got the final out and ACU held on for the win.
Stat Pack
- Tweedt and Miesse led the way with two hits apiece, and Tweedt launched the first homer of the season for the 'Cats.
- Randle, Britt, and Williams all drove in a run Saturday.
- De La Cruz got the win, tossing five innings of two-run ball on five hits with a strikeout.
- Boggan was spectacular, going three scoreless on three hits with three strikeouts.
- Huffling earned the save in the ninth, and struck out the side in the frame.
Beyond the Box Score
- ACU is 2-0 for the third time in the last four seasons. ACU got off to 2-0 starts against Tarleton in 2021 and Utah Valley in 2020.
- ACU has come from behind in both games to start the year.
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Grayson Tatrow put together his first official at-bat this season on Saturday; the senior had four plate appearances on Friday night, recording three walks and a sacrifice fly.
On Deck
- The series continues on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. for the third of four games. The game will air on WAC International. RHP
Breck Eichelberger gets the ball for ACU and goes up against RHP Casey Burfield.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
