HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Emma 'Bubba' Rote kickstarted the Abilene Christian offense with a two-run homer - her seventh of the spring - but it may have come an inning or two late as Sam Houston held off the Wildcats' 6-5 to capture Saturday's rubber game at the Bearkats Softball Complex.
The loss dropped ACU's conference record to 9-12, while Sam Houston improved to 11-10. The Wildcats will very likely have to sweep next weekend's series at New Mexico in order to finish .500 in WAC play and qualify for its conference postseason.
The Bearkats jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning, scoring twice in the second and third, and once in the first and fifth frames off starter
Talia Nielsen and reliever
Riley White.
Rote then began to bring the Wildcats back with a two-run shot vs. Regan Dunn to begin the sixth with
Olivia Taylor aboard.
An inning later against reliever Daryn Grams, the Wildcats started their three-run seventh with a
Catrin Hoffman single followed by a fielding error and another hit from Taylor.
Rote cut the Wildcats' deficit to 6-4 with an RBI single to center field, and McKenley Clark made it a one-run game with an RBI ground out. That brought
Avery Miloch to the plate with two outs and the go-ahead runs on base. Unfortunately, closer Emma Guindon retired the Wildcats' leading slugger on a pop up to third base.
The Wildcats continue their road swing to end the regular season Friday with the start of a three-game set at New Mexico State.
Both Las Cruces game days begin at 5 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. MT.
