ABILENE – Grayson Tatrow hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a 5-1 deficit, but a two-run homer in the ninth from Cristian Enriquez upped the ante and sent ACU home with a 7-5 defeat to Tarleton. The Wildcats (29-20, 13-12 WAC) trailed early, surrendering five runs in the first two innings, but battled all the way to even things up in the seventh before the rival Texans (24-22, 8-15 WAC) retook the lead for good. ACU drops its third consecutive series opener, and now will look to even things up on Saturday for the middle game, which is set for 2:05 p.m.
How It Happened
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Breck Eichelberger made his first Friday start of the season and got dinged up right away in the first, allowing each of the first three batters to reach. Tarleton scored three times on a pair of hits to go up 3-0 before ACU swung the sticks.
- The 'Cats responded with in their home half, with
Miller Ladusau delivering an RBI-double into the gap in left center field to make it 3-1 after an inning.
- It looked as though ACU would get out of the second with a double-play ball, but the runner beat the throw to first by a step and kept the inning alive. After a hit batsman and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, Trace Morrison singled in both to put Tarleton out ahead, 5-1.
- ACU got three runs back in the fourth with a
Crew Parke RBI-single and a pair of sacrifice flies from
Holden Rook and
Logan Britt. The 'Cats were right back in it, trailing 5-4 after four.
- Both starting pitchers settled in, then
Blake Anderson was strong in the middle of the game for ACU. The score remained 5-4 heading to the home seventh, where Tatrow had his fireworks ready. The senior delivered a solo shot to right with one out to tie things up, 5-5, and we went to the final two innings all even.
- After a scoreless eighth, Tarleton put a man on and Enriquez then had the swing of the afternoon with a two-run shot to right to put the visitors ahead for good.
- ACU put the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Tarleton closer Zane Badmaev slammed the door shut.
Stat Pack
- Parke led the way with a three-hit afternoon, his ninth multi-hit game of the season. The Wildcat shortstop drove in a run as well.
- Tatrow, Ladusau, and
Garrett Williams each put together two-hit days, with Tatrow driving in one with his 19th home run of the year. Both of Tatrow's hits went for extra bases (home run, double).
- Eichelberger got a no-decision in 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
- Anderson was terrific in relief, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings on two hits with three punch outs.
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Adam Stephenson took the loss (3-2), allowing the two-run homer in the ninth.
Beyond the Box Score
- Tatrow's 19 blasts extend his own D1 single-season program record. He has seven of ACU's last nine home runs.
- Anderson's 3.1 innings are an out shy of a career-best, which he threw against Utah Tech last weekend.
On Deck
- The Wildcats will honor 14 seniors on Saturday prior to game two of the series. Due to expected rain in the forecast, the start time has been altered to 2:05 p.m. The game will air on WAC International.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
