Wildcats Host SUU during Softball Alumni Weekend

ABILENE - Abilene Christian softball plays host to Southern Utah Saturday and Sunday at Poly Wells Field for a three-game WAC series. Game times are 2 p.m. (DH) and noon with temperatures reaching the high 70s.
 

All three contests will be web streamed via ACUSports.com.
 

This series also doubles as the program's annual Alumni Weekend reunion. The program, which was founded in 1997, has produced more than 600 victories, made four NCAA appearances, and churned out multiple All-Americans including first teamers Shelly Owen, Chantiel McDonnell, Katie Bryan, Jessica Johnson, Jessica Shiery and Keanna Winkfield.

Owen and the program's first head coach, Carol Tabor, were both ACU Hall of Fame inductees in 2016.

All softball alumni in attendance this weekend are encouraged and invited to meet and greet current players and coaches, and the fans.
 

The Wildcats come into this weekend looking for conference win No. 1 after suffering a tough home sweep vs. Utah Tech despite averaging above 5.0 runs per game with four round-trippers. ACU then lost its Wednesday contest at Texas Tech, which used a pair of two-out home runs en route to an 8-0 triumph.
 

Logan Gaspar paced the Wildcats' offense in Lubbock with a pair of singles and an unassisted double play from her shortstop position. ACU's top hitter Avery Miloch (.318 / 7HR / 15 RBI) also made a fine defensive play gunning a baserunner out at second on a pitchout.

Miloch has been credited with five caught stealings this spring.

E4 | SS @loganraynk with the UNASSISTED DP to end the 4th!

Wildcats trailing 3-0 in Lubbock.#GoWildcats | #TearEmUp pic.twitter.com/wwxVaLBmqL

— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) March 23, 2023

T1 | Wildcats with a big first out as C @averymiloch_ guns Makinzy Herzog down at second base. SS @loganraynk with the tag.

Scoreless first inning at Rocky Johnson Field.#GoWildcats | #TearEmUp pic.twitter.com/x8v8JOTbj6

— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) March 22, 2023

Three other Wildcat starters are hitting above .300 on the season: Catrin Hoffman (.314), Sammie Shelander (.312) and Mercedes Eichelberger (.306).
 

The Thunderbirds have played 12 fewer games than the Wildcats (30) entering week No. 2 of WAC play, owning overall and conference marks of 4-14 and 1-2. Southern Utah had an entire tournament wiped out due to weather at Fresno State in late February, and endured another cancellation earlier this month at Nevada.
 

This past weekend, the Thunderbirds won one of three games at home vs. WAC rival UT Arlington. The Mavericks hammered SUU pitching in games one and two by scores of 10-3 and 15-10, but were limited to three runs on eight hits in game three by four Thunderbird pitchers - none of whom exceeded 40 pitches or 3.0 innings.
 

SUU is hitting .247 as a team with 53 runs scored. Four of the team's five home runs have come off the bat of Emily Gonzales, who also leads her club with a .423 batting average and 12 RBI.

Their pitching staff owns a 7.13 ERA with 46K.