ABILENE - The Abilene Christian Wildcats made history on Saturday as they officially played their home opener in their brand-new stadium, Crutcher Scott Field, with a dominant performance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. ACU made a statement in their first games at the new facility, sweeping Youngstown State in a doubleheader, winning game one with a commanding 6-0 shutout and securing a thrilling 11-9 victory in game two.
The Wildcats came out strong in the first game, backed by an exceptional pitching performance from Dominick Reid. The right-hander could throw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out six. He kept Youngstown State's hitters off balance before handing the ball to Chandler Benson, who closed out the game with 3.2 shutout innings of relief, securing the Wildcats' first home victory of the season.
ACU's offense steadily built a lead, scoring in four different innings. Maddox Miesse was a key catalyst, reaching base multiple times and scoring three runs. Nick Arias, Zandt Payne, and Benjamin Greer each drove in runs to keep ACU in control. The Wildcats played aggressively, swiping three stolen bases and capitalizing on Youngstown State's defensive mistakes.
In game two, ACU's offense exploded, putting up 11 runs in a back-and-forth contest. The Wildcats took an early lead and continued to add on throughout the game, responding to every Youngstown State rally with clutch hits. Zandt Payne led the charge, going 2 for 4, and in one of his at-bats delivering a grand slam, upping his count to 7 RBIs. Maddox Miesse tallied a home run, having two RBIs in the game.
Despite some challenges from Youngstown State's bats in the middle innings, the Wildcats' stood out. The pitching staff worked through high-pressure situations, and the defense made key plays to shut down potential scoring threats late in the game. With the home crowd behind them, Brett Lanman was awarded the win, and Brady Coe gained a save in closing out the 11-9 win.
The Wildcats now sit at 3-3 on the season and will look to carry this momentum forward to tomorrow as they attempt to sweep their first homestand.
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