Friday, March 24
Abilene
6:05 p.m.
Abilene Christian
16-6, 5-2
4
vs
8
Sacramento State
12-9, 2-2
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4
5
6
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8
9
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Sacramento State
0
4
1
0
0
0
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3
8
14
1
Abilene Christian
0
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4
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7
1
Photo by: Kaylee Kahn
Martin, Ladusau homer in Friday loss to Sacramento State
3/24/2023 10:28:00 PM | Baseball
ABILENE – Eric Martin and Miller Ladusau each hit home runs in a losing effort on Friday night as the ACU baseball team dropped the opener of a three-game series against Sacramento State, 8-4. The Wildcats (16-6, 5-2 WAC) trailed 5-0 after three innings, but responded with the homers to make it a 5-4 game in the fifth inning. The bullpen for both teams pitch well the rest of the way, until the Hornets (12-9, 2-2 WAC) scored three in the ninth to put the game away. The visitors take a 1-0 series lead in the inaugural matchup between the teams, and now ACU will go for the series split on Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
How It Happened
- Sacramento State went to work in the top of the second inning to take the lead they would not surrender. Jacob Cortez launched a three-run home run off Morgan, and two batters later Wehiwa Aloy blasted a solo shot to push the lead to 4-0. On a night where the wind was blowing out to left at 25 miles per hour, it was the visiting Hornets who took advantage early.
- JP Smith did enough on a fly ball to score a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to put Sac State up 5-0, and it was looking like the visitors would pull away completely. ACU did respond, however.
- The 'Cats saw Eric Martin launch a solo home run of his own to get ACU on the board, and then four batters later Miller Ladusau blasted a three-run homer to get the home team within a run, 5-4. However, both bullpens took over and dominated. There would not be another run until the ninth inning.
- A pair of singles scored three total runs in the ninth inning off Max Huffling, and Sacramento State blossomed its lead out to 8-4. ACU went down in the bottom of the ninth, and that was it.
Stat Pack
- Parke led ACU with two hits, while five Wildcats each tallied one hit.
- Ladusau drove in three with his home run, the third of the season.
- Martin's solo shot was the second of the season for the junior.
- Morgan went 4.2 innings in the loss (1-1), allowing five earned on eight hits to go with five strikeouts and two walks.
- Zach Smith went 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen on just two hits with two strikeouts.
- Huffling threw the ninth, allowing three earned on four hits.
Beyond the Box Score
- ACU has lost two games in a row for the first time this season.
- Of ACU's 21 home runs this season, 13 have been solo blasts. Both of Martin's homers this year have been of the solo variety.
- Ladusau has already matched his home run total for the entire 2022 season (3) with 33 games to play this spring.
On Deck
- Game two is set for 3:05 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and it will air on ESPN+. Right-hander Breck Eichelberger (2-0, 4.87 ERA) goes for ACU against lefty Noah Lucchesi (2-2, 3.93 ERA) for Sacramento State.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
How It Happened
- Sacramento State went to work in the top of the second inning to take the lead they would not surrender. Jacob Cortez launched a three-run home run off Morgan, and two batters later Wehiwa Aloy blasted a solo shot to push the lead to 4-0. On a night where the wind was blowing out to left at 25 miles per hour, it was the visiting Hornets who took advantage early.
- JP Smith did enough on a fly ball to score a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to put Sac State up 5-0, and it was looking like the visitors would pull away completely. ACU did respond, however.
- The 'Cats saw Eric Martin launch a solo home run of his own to get ACU on the board, and then four batters later Miller Ladusau blasted a three-run homer to get the home team within a run, 5-4. However, both bullpens took over and dominated. There would not be another run until the ninth inning.
- A pair of singles scored three total runs in the ninth inning off Max Huffling, and Sacramento State blossomed its lead out to 8-4. ACU went down in the bottom of the ninth, and that was it.
Stat Pack
- Parke led ACU with two hits, while five Wildcats each tallied one hit.
- Ladusau drove in three with his home run, the third of the season.
- Martin's solo shot was the second of the season for the junior.
- Morgan went 4.2 innings in the loss (1-1), allowing five earned on eight hits to go with five strikeouts and two walks.
- Zach Smith went 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen on just two hits with two strikeouts.
- Huffling threw the ninth, allowing three earned on four hits.
Beyond the Box Score
- ACU has lost two games in a row for the first time this season.
- Of ACU's 21 home runs this season, 13 have been solo blasts. Both of Martin's homers this year have been of the solo variety.
- Ladusau has already matched his home run total for the entire 2022 season (3) with 33 games to play this spring.
On Deck
- Game two is set for 3:05 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and it will air on ESPN+. Right-hander Breck Eichelberger (2-0, 4.87 ERA) goes for ACU against lefty Noah Lucchesi (2-2, 3.93 ERA) for Sacramento State.
Follow ACU Baseball on Social Media
Twitter: @ACU_Baseball | @ACUsports
Instagram: @acu_baseball | @acusports
Facebook: /ACUSports
Twitter: @ACU_Baseball | @ACUsports
Instagram: @acu_baseball | @acusports
Facebook: /ACUSports
#ATO | #GoWildcats
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nelson, Jasper (1-1)
L: Morgan, Tyler (1-1)
S: Zalasky, Jack (7)
Batting:
HR: Aloy, Wehiwa 1 ; Cortez, Jacob 1
RBI: Aloy, Wehiwa 1 ; Vincelli-Simard, M 1 ; Smith, JP 3 ; Cortez, Jacob 3
SH: Bojorquez, Jorge 1
SF: Smith, JP 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aloy, Wehiwa 2 ; Gouldsmith, Gunner 1 ; Vincelli-Simard, M 1 ; Bojorquez, Jorge 1 ; Rolling, Josh 1 ; Smith, JP 1 ; Cortez, Jacob 1
HBP: Bojorquez, Jorge 1
Batting:
2B: Britt, Logan 1 ; Parke, Crew 1
HR: Ladusau, Miller 1 ; Martin, Eric 1
RBI: Ladusau, Miller 3 ; Martin, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Garrett 1 ; Ladusau, Miller 1 ; Martin, Eric 1 ; Randle, Bash 1
SB: Britt, Logan 1
CS: Tatrow, Grayson 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP / INF
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