ABILENE - ACU's
Lina Russo pitched a no-hitter to start a doubleheader versus Southern Utah, and finished it off with another shutout victory in game two as the Wildcats softball team won 6-0, and 1-0 on Friday at Poly Wells Field.
The cloudy sky turned a light brown color as 30 mph winds, with gusts to 50 mph, blew dust from the west into Abilene and across the softball diamond. The Wildcats (6-22, 2-3 WAC) battled through the conditions to blank the Thunderbirds (7-17, 2-3) in both games.
Russo threw every pitch of the doubleheader and allowed just five base runners in the opening game. She carried the momentum into game two where Southern Utah earned seven hits, but could not come around to score.
"I am super proud of her," said ACU's first-year head coach Jo Koons. "[Southern Utah] wasn't close the first game. Her stuff was on. Being able to beat batters multiple times, I think she faced the top of the lineup six times. I knew she was capable of it."
Friday was the first time the Wildcats have played at home in 2025. They started the season with 26 consecutive road games, making trips to College Station, Commerce, Norman, OK, Austin, Seattle and Eugene, OR.
"They've been waiting for this day since the beginning, so they were ready to go," said Koons. "We had a good week of practice leading into it. They were prepared."
Game 1: ACU 6, Southern Utah 0 - The Wildcats snapped a 6-game losing streak with a victory in game one. ACU scored four runs in the second inning behind a 2 RBI single by
Emalee Romero, and a 2-run home run to right from
Miranda Lista.It was Lista's first round-tripper of the year. and her seventh as a Wildcat.
Russo delivered a trio of three-up, three-down innings in the circle. She struck out three batters and forced 12 groundouts. Russo's no-hitter is believed to be hte first by an ACU pitcher since Alivia Sinnott no-hit Mississippi Valley State in an 11-0, 5-inning game on Feb. 23, 2020.
Catrin Hoffman added two more runs with a double to left center in the 4th that scored
Julianna Martinez and Lista.
Game 2: ACU 1, Southern Utah 0 - In the second game of the day, ACU once again struck first when
Julianna Martinez singled to left, driving
Audrey Lacina home. Lacina started the inning with a single up the middle. She advanced to second when Romero drew a walk, and
Ari Maxwell moved Lacina to third on a fielder's choice.
The lone run ended up being all the Wildcats needed.
Russo continued to make quick work of Southern Utah with nine straight retired batters after allowing a game-opening single. The T-Birds loaded the bases in the fourth, but Lacina made a great play on a ground ball to throw home and catch the runner in time for the force out.
In the fifth, Lacina bobbled a throw from catcher
Catrin Hoffman on an attempt to catch a runner stealing second. However, Lacina gathered and fired home to nab the SUU runner who took off for third.
Russo threw back-to-back strikeouts to end the game in the top of the 7th.
Up Next - ACU and Southern Utah finish their WAC series on Saturday at 11 a.m. Conditions will be breezy, but much more suitable for fans to come out to Poly Wells and enjoy the season schedule post giveaway promotion. Admission is free for all.
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