Tatrow's 11th-inning homer powers ACU to first-ever win over Baylor

ABILENE – There has been plenty of drama so far in the 2023 season, and Tuesday night was the latest example for the ACU baseball team. The Wildcats led the Big 12's Baylor Bears 2-0 in the ninth, surrendered the lead, and then Grayson Tatrow delivered with a three-run home run in the 11th inning to power a 5-2 victory. It's the first-ever win for ACU (19-6) over Baylor (9-16) and the second win over a Big 12 team this season. After a scoreless 10th and Tatrow gave ACU the lead in the 11th, Zach Smith recorded the final three outs to close the door and the 'Cats left Waco a winner.

How It Happened
- Junior Blake Anderson got the ball and tossed three scoreless to open the game. It was a pitcher's dual to get it started Tuesday night, with Baylor starter Brett Garcia throwing two scoreless as well. It was a bullpen game for both sides, but the arms were terrific for both sides. ACU got the scoring started in the top of the fifth inning.
- After four scoreless, Bash Randle got the offense rolling with a leadoff single. After a Jake Skaggs walk, Crew Parke laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Riley Bender then hit a ground ball that turned into a fielder's choice, but a throwing error allowed Randle to score to put ACU in front, 1-0.
- Baylor had two on with just one out in the bottom of the sixth, but reliever Adam Stephenson, who took over in the fourth inning, got the next two batters out via a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the jam.
- ACU added to the lead in the top of the seventh after Jake Skaggs grounded into a double play. Tanner Tweedt came home to double the lead to 2-0. But Baylor had late-inning drama of its own Tuesday night.
- Max Huffling threw a scoreless eighth, but the Bears got a two-run home run from Walker Polk in the bottom of the ninth to tie it up and send it into extras.
- Both teams traded scoreless half innings in the 10th, and then ACU came to the plate in the 11th. The inning started with a bang. Miller Ladusau doubled the opposite way to left center field to put a runner the go-ahead run in scoring position with no one out. After a Logan Britt walk, Tatrow had his moment. The senior launched a three-run shot to put the Wildcats in front for good, 5-2.
- Drake Boggan got the final out of the ninth and threw the whole tenth before giving way to Zach Smith. The sixth-year closed it out in the 11th to preserve the 5-2 win.

Stat Pack
- Tatrow has now homered in three-straight games for the first time in his career. It was his only hit of the game, and it counted the most.
- Ladusau, Tweedt, and Randle each led the ACU offense with two hits apiece. Britt did not record a hit, but walked three times.
- All five runs were scored by five different players (Ladusau, Tatrow, Tweedt, Randle, and Holden Rook).
- Anderson went 3.0 scoreless in his start, allowing a pair of hits and striking out four with just one walk.
- Stephenson went 4.0 scorless in relief, allowing four hits and striking out eight Bears.
- Huffling went 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, giving up two runs on two hits.
- Drake Boggan got the win, tossing 1.1 inning of scoreless baseball on two hits.
- Smith got the save (1) after a scoreless 11th, the first save of his career.

Beyond the Box Score
- Tuesday marks ACU's second Power 5 win of the season (Oklahoma) after having five such victories last season. ACU now has 11 victories all-time against Power 5 competition, with wins over Baylor (1), OU (1), Michigan State (3), TCU (2), Texas Tech (1), Arizona (2), and Texas A&M (1).
- ACU is now 2-0 in extra-inning games this season, both against Power 5 teams. Maddox Miesse walked off for the 'Cats against Oklahoma on Feb. 22.
- This is ACU's fourth three-game winning streak of the season.
- Anderson has started three of the four midweek games this season, and in those three starts has thrown eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out 10 batters. ACU is 2-1 in those games.
- Stephenson has now thrown 13.2 straight innings of scoreless baseball, totaling four outings dating back to March 11 against SFA.

On Deck
- ACU will host former Southland foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday, March 31 at 6:05 p.m. before taking on Nebraska on Saturday, April 1 at 4:05 p.m. The weekend wraps up with Corpus again on Sunday, April 2 at 1:05 p.m. The Islanders and Huskers will play on Saturday for a single game before ACU takes on Nebraska to close that doubleheader.