CORPUS CHRISTI - The ACU Wildcats will open baseball season in Corpus Christi this weekend at Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A Affiliate to the Houston Astros.
The three-game series will feature the 2024 Big Ten champions, Illinois. The Illini had a dominant season, finishing 18-6 in conference play and 35-21 overall. Their conference tournament victory secured an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals. This marks their first Big Ten title since 2015 and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019.
The Wildcats had an overall record of 33-25 in the 2024 season and went 18-12 in the conference. ACU ended the regular season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tied for second with Utah Valley. ACU had a good run in the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Arizona, but unfortunately fell to Cal Baptist in the Semi-Finals, just out of reach for a bid in the NCAA Tournament.
With some key players, like Miller Ladusau and Gino D'Alessio, graduating in 2024, Head Coach Rick McCarty was able to hold onto some of his returners, as well as gain some more talent.
Ben Greer returns for his third season in the purple and white, leading the team with a .338 batting average, 51 hits, and a .436 on-base percentage. A threat on the bases, he successfully stole 16 of 19 attempts last season. His impact was felt throughout conference play, earning a spot on the 2025 Preseason All-WAC Team.
Two-time Freshman All-American Brett Lanman made a significant impact in conference play, earning 2024 Pitcher of the Year honors. He enters the 2025 season as the WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year and a Preseason All-WAC selection alongside Ben Greer. Lanman impressed in his rookie campaign, leading the team with 79 strikeouts over 72 innings. He posted a 3.48 ERA and secured seven wins across 15 starts.
Some other returners to note, Maddox Miesse, a true junior comes back for his third year as a Wildcat. Miesse is a disciplined player, ranking third in RBIs at 35 and in walks, gaining 27 on the year. Zandt Payne and Jack Nielson are key players in the infield that will contribute to the Wildcats' success.
With new faces, Freshmans Brady Coe and Braden Regala are two names to note. Coe was named one of D1 Baseball's Freshman of the Year and Regala, a native of Abilene, was honored with First-Team All-District Outfield in the 2024 season.
Transfer RHP Dominick Reid comes to ACU from Oklahoma State. Reid spent two years with the Cowboys. He averaged an ERA of 4.66 in his two years with 25 strikeouts.
The Wildcats start a tough schedule with a series against a Big 10 opponent, and then they make their way for their first mid-week matchup in San Antonio. ACU will face Incarnate Word on Tuesday before heading back home for their opening weekend at home.
Crutcher Scott Field has been under construction since May 2024, and the Wildcats will be able to play in the new stadium on February 21 weekend against Youngstown State.
