MESA, Ariz. – Logan Britt capped a four-hit day with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning to top off a wild opening round game against California Baptist on Tuesday. The No. 5 seed Wildcats were in a dogfight with the No. 8 seed Lancers the entire game, tied at 2-2 until the eighth inning. CBU hit back-to-back home runs to grab a 4-2 advantage, but the 'Cats responded with three in the eighth to win it, 5-4. The Wildcats (34-22) earn an opening day win at the WAC Tournament for the first time, and now advance to Wednesday's second round to take on the No. 2 seed Sam Houston at 4 p.m. CT at Hohokam Stadium.
How It Happened
- CBU got the scoring started right away off ACU starter
Breck Eichelberger when Cole Howarth singled up the middle. The visitors on the scoreboard led 1-0 before ACU came to bat.
- The Wildcats answered with the league's Player of the Year.
Grayson Tatrow blasted a two-run home run to left field to put ACU in front, capping off a busy first inning. The pitchers would settle in nicely after that.
- CBU tied it up in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to center field, but that was the only run scored from the second to the seventh innings. Eichelberger and CBU's Jacob Wilson both pitched well in the middle part of the game, tossing up constant zeros.
- The Lancers took the lead in the top of the eighth with back-to-back home runs from Mitchel Simon and Josh Paino off lefty
Adam Stephenson, and it looked bleak for ACU, trialing 4-2 with six outs to go.
- The bottom of the eighth was the difference. The inning began with a single from
Miller Ladusau, a walk from
Tanner Tweedt, and a bunt from
Maddox Miesse that forced an out at third base to put runners at first and second with one away.
Jack Nielsen then singled up the middle to move the runners up 90 feet, and the bases were loaded with just the one out. It looked like CBU would get out of it when
Crew Parke struck out, but a clutch at-bat came from
Holden Rook. The ACU right fielder laced one on the ground to the right side, and the throw was just late to the bag, and two runs came in to score to tie the game. The ball then got away allowing Nielsen to advance to third, and the go-ahead run was 90 feet away. Britt then delivered with his biggest swing of the season, singling into right center to bring home Nielsen for the 5-4 lead.
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Zach Smith did what he has done all year, assert himself as the ACU closer. The right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the postseason victory.
Stat Pack
- Britt matched his best game in an ACU uniform with four hits, with his final swing delivering the game-winning RBI.
- Tatrow launched his 24th home run of the season, continuing to stretch out his ACU single-season record.
- Ladusau tallied a pair of hits as part of an 11-hit game for the Wildcats.
- Eichelberger gets the no-decision tossing six strong innings allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
- Stephenson got the win (5-3) despite giving up the two homers in the eighth, and Smith notched his ninth save of the season.
Beyond the Box Score
- ACU moves to 5-2 all-time at Hohokam Stadium and in the WAC Tournament after finishing 4-2 last season.
- Britt's last four-hit game was in game two of the season back on Feb. 19 against Nevada.
- Tatrow hit his first homer in a WAC Tournament on Tuesday. The senior had just one RBI and no homers last season in six games in Mesa.
On Deck
- ACU takes on a familiar rival, Sam Houston, on Wednesday, May 24. The game starts at 6 p.m. CT (4 p.m. PT). The game will air on ESPN+ and on the radio on the ACU Sports Network.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
