ACU Clinches Spot in WAC Tournament with Friday's Win

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Abilene Christian softball team will play in a conference tournament for the first time since 2022 thanks to a 5-2 win in game two of a doubleheader with California Baptist on Friday.

The Wildcats lost the opening game of the twinbill, 2-1. ACU now holds a 10-10 record in the WAC this season, and guaranteed itself a spot in the WAC Tournament with Friday's results. The top eight teams qualify for the league tournament with the top four squads earning a bye into the single-elimination portion of the event.

The WAC Tournament is May 7-10 at CBU's John Funk Stadium -- the same field where ACU is playing this weekend. The Wildcats missed the tourney in 2023 and 2024. They were the No. 4 seed in 2022, but were eliminated when they lost their first two games.

ACU's series against California Baptist concludes on Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT). The Wildcats are 5-1 in series finales this season -- the highest winning percentage in the WAC.

Game 1: CBU 2, ACU 1 - The Lancers spoiled what was arguably Ella Beeman's best performance in the pitching circle this season with a walk-off win in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Beeman allowed just two runs -- only one earned -- in 6.2 innings. She did force California Baptist to leave nine runners on base, including six in scoring position.

Designated player Catrin Hoffman started the scoring with a solo home run to left field in the 2nd inning. It was just her second homer of the year, but the pair came in back-to-back games (April 19 vs. Tarleton State; April 25 at California Baptist).

ACU's lead held until the Lancers used some small-ball in the 4th. With runners at second and third, CBU laid down a late bunt that allowed a run to score and tie the game, 1-1.

The Wildcats put two on in the 7th, but could not push a run across. In the bottom of the frame, CBU's Ashlee Annett reached on a fielder's choice and then moved from first to third on a wild pitch that catcher Valerie Ornelas could not locate. In the next at-bat, slugger Kalena Burns singled home the winning score.

Beeman suffered the hard-luck loss which dropped her record this season to 2-7.


Game 2: ACU 5, CBU 3 - Just as they have for most of the conference season, after losing in the series opener the Wildcats punched back.

ACU is now 1-6 in the first game of their WAC series, but is 5-1 in series finales. 

Pitcher Lina Russo got the ball in game two, and matched CBU pitcher Annika Hollgsworth shot-for-shot as both hurlers quickly made their way through the opposing team's lineup.

The scoring did not open up until the 4th when Elizabeth Schaefer smacked a solo home run on the first pitch she saw. Schaefer has hit 4 home runs this season (tied for the team-high), and finished the day 3-for-4 at the dish.

The Lancers responded with two runs of their own. In the 5th, ACU's Isabel Martinez, pinch hitting for Emalee Romero, cracked a triple down the right field line which drove Valerie Ornelas home. Taylor Bachmeyer, Audrey Lacina and Ari Maxwell all brought runs in to build a 5-2 edge.

Russo, one of seven ACU players from California, was dealing efficiently. She scattered four hits and two runs across 7 innings to improve her season record to 9-16. It was Russo's third consecutive complete game.