ABILENE – In a game that featured 17 runs and 22 hits, it was ACU who came out on top to pull off a season sweep of the Baylor Bears for the first time in program history. Abilene Christian (27-16) and Baylor (15-30) went back and forth early, but the Wildcats took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning and ultimately held on by one, 9-8. ACU opens the final month of the season on a high note and takes that momentum into the home weekend coming up against Utah Tech.
How It Happened
- Baylor took advantage of an early error by shortstop
Crew Parke in the top of the first and capitalized with a run-scoring single up the middle from Hunter Simmons.
- ACU responded nicely in the bottom of the first. The 'Cats put the first two on with walks and
Garrett Williams doubled them both home with a double out to right center field to go up 2-1.
Miller Ladusau followed with a run-scoring single and it was a 3-1 lead after one.
- Baylor immediately answered with a four-spot in the top of the second, scoring on a single, a fielder's choice, and a two-run home run.
- The 'Cats came right back in the home third, doing it all with two outs. With the bases empty,
Tanner Tweedt doubled,
Maddox Miesse singled in the infield, and
Jake Skaggs brought home Tweedt with a single into right. The Wildcats added two more when
Holden Rook singled to right with the bases loaded, and ACU jumped back in front, 6-5.
- ACU added two more in the home fourth, this time taking advantage of a Baylor error. Miesse drove one into right field, and the Baylor outfielder could not secure the catch, allowing Tweedt and Williams to come all the way around to score. The Wildcats led 8-5 after four innings.
- Baylor scored two in the top of the fifth with a solo homer and a run-scoring groundout. It was a back-and-forth night with 15 total runs scored at the halfway point.
- The scoring slowed down until the bottom of the seventh, when ACU executed a perfect hit and run. Britt took off on the pitch from first and Tatrow delivered a perfect ball into left center field. Britt used his long strides to come all the way around to score to make it a 9-7 game.
- Baylor responded with one in the top of the eighth inning with a double into right center, and it went right back to a 9-8 game.
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Zach Smith got the final four outs of the game to secure the win.
Stat Pack
- Eight players tallied a hit led by three from Tweedt. The other seven Wildcats had one hit each.
- Williams and Rook each drove in two, while Tatrow, Ladusau and Skaggs each tallied one RBI.
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Blake Anderson went 1.2 innings in the start allowing three earned runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
- Reliever
Adam Stephenson got the win (3-1), going 1.1 inning allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout.
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Sam Berberich went 2.0 innings,
Drake Boggan went 2.2 innings, and Smith went 1.1 innings out of the bullpen. Smith got his fifth save of the season.
Beyond the Box Score
- ACU has its first-ever win over Baylor in Abilene. 2023 marks the only two wins in the history of the program over the Bears.
- The Wildcats win a midweek game for the first time since March 28. Their opponent that night was also Baylor.
- ACU is now 10-7 on the season when it does not hit a home run.
- Tuesday night marked the 13th win all-time over a Power 5 school, including the fourth this season (Oklahoma, Nebraska, Baylor x2). Nine of the 13 wins have come with
Rick McCarty leading the program.
On Deck
- ACU continues the home stand with a three-game set against Utah Tech this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 5-7. Friday's series opener gets underway at 6:05 p.m., Saturday's middle game is set for 3:05 p.m., and Sunday's finale has been moved up two hours to 11 a.m.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
