AUSTIN – The ACU Wildcats finished their run in the Longhorn Invitational on Sunday with a 3-2 win over old Southland Conference rival Incarnate Word at McCombs Field.
The win moves the Wildcats to 4-16, while the Cardinals' loss drops them to 9-9. ACU is back in action next weekend in Seattle, where it will take on Seattle University in a three-game series to open Western Athletic Conference play. After playing those three in Seattle, the Wildcats will travel to Eugene, Oregon, to play Oregon State (next Sunday) and No. 24 Oregon (Next Sunday evening and Monday afternoon).
The Wildcats – who have yet to play a home game – will finally play their first home game of the season on Friday, March 14, when they host Southern Utah at Wells Field for the first game of a three-game WAC series.
On Sunday, the Wildcats and Cardinals were tied 2-2 going to the bottom of the fifth inning when the Wildcats pushed across the eventual game-winning run. Taylor Bachmeyer singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miranda Lista. After an out was recorded and Elizabeth Schaefer walked, Audrey Lacina pulled an 0-2 pitch into left-centerfield for an RBI double, giving the Wildcats a 3-2 lead.
ACU pitcher Lina Russo — who picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-7 — gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the sixth but got out of the jam with her team still leading. Russo set down the Cardinals in order in the top of the seventh to finish the win. Russo pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits and struck out two Cardinals.
