Martin, Ladusau homer in Friday loss to Sacramento State

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.