ABILENE – The ACU baseball team got back on track to even the series with Utah Tech on Saturday afternoon, taking game two of the weekend, 8-6. In a game that was moved up three hours to avoid the inclement weather, the Wildcats (28-17, 12-11 WAC) jumped out in front, 5-0, and built up as much as an 8-2 lead in the late innings. The Trailblazers (12-33, 7-16 WAC) scored four in the ninth, but the rally fell short as ACU held on for the win. The series is now even at one game apiece, and the teams will turn to the rubber match on Sunday at 11:05 a.m.
How It Happened
- After a very crucial scoreless top of the first from starter
Breck Eichelberger,
Grayson Tatrow gave ACU the early lead with a solo shot to center field. The 16th homer of the season for Tatrow gave the 'Cats their first lead of the series.
- The Wildcats executed a perfect double steal in the bottom of the third inning.
Logan Britt took off for second, and
Holden Rook then took off for home and scored to go up 2-0.
Tanner Tweedt followed later in the inning with a two-out single up the middle to plate
Garrett Williams to go up 3-0 after three.
- Tatrow was at it again in the home fifth, launching a low-trajectory, two-run home run to left field to go up 5-0.
- Utah Tech got on the board in the top of the sixth off reliever
Luke Krkovski, scoring a pair of runs on a single and a fielder's choice.
- The 'Cats kept it going in the home sixth. With runners on first and second, Rook grounded into a fielder's choice. The throw to first base got away allowing a run to score to make it 6-2.
Logan Britt then stepped in and launched a two-run home run to left field to make it an 8-2 advantage through six.
- Utah Tech threatened in the ninth to make some noise, scoring four times to cut it to a two-run game, but
Zach Smith finished it out strong to hold on for the 8-6 win.
Stat Pack
- Britt and Tatrow led the way, combining for four hits, including three homers, five runs driven in, and four runs scored.
- Tatrow hit home runs 16 and 17 on the season and now leads ACU with 52 RBI.
- Britt launched his 11th homer of the year as well as part of a three-homer day for the 'Cats.
- Tatrow had his second multi-homer game of the season and drove in three. He reached base three times and scored twice.
- Eichelberger got the win (5-2) tossing 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball on just two hits. The right-hander struck out two and threw 90 pitches.
-
Luke Krkovski threw 0.1 inning, and
Adam Stephenson legged out 2.2 innings of scoreless ball on two hits with two strikeouts.
-
Sam Berberich did not get an out in the ninth, but
Zach Smith logged all three outs to slam the door.
Beyond the Box Score
- Tatrow now has 17 home runs this season, tying his own single-season Division I record for the most one season. The senior his 17 last season as well.
- Tatrow's home run in the fifth inning was 105 miles per hour off the bat.
- ACU now has 51 home runs as a team this season, the third consecutive year with 50-plus bombs.
On Deck
- Game three of the series gets underway at 11:05 a.m. on Sunday on WAC International. RHP
Austin Glaze (2-1, 6.80 ERA) goes for ACU against RHP Dakoda West (1-1, 6.51 ERA) for Utah Tech.
#ATO | #GoWildcats
