MESA, Ariz. — In a day that tested both their mettle and endurance, Abilene Christian Baseball endured a devastating ninth-inning loss to Utah Valley in the morning, only to bounce back with a come-from-behind 9–5 win over Utah Tech in an elimination game to keep their postseason dreams alive at the WAC Tournament.
In a game dominated by starting pitching, ACU's Dominick Reid delivered one of the best performances of his career — and the tournament thus far — striking out 12 Wolverines over seven scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed just three hits and worked out of multiple jams with pinpoint command and composure.
ACU broke through in the third inning when freshman Braden Regala led off with a single and advanced to third on a well-executed bunt single from Zandt Payne. With two outs, Diego Cardenas delivered an RBI double to left to give the Wildcats a 1–0 lead. That would be all the scoring they could muster against Utah Valley's Corbin Kirk, striking out 13 and allowing only six hits and no walks.
The Wildcats had chances to extend the lead — most notably in the seventh, when Reese Borho led off with a ground-rule double and moved to third on a sacrifice — but the Wolverines there a double-play to keep the run deficit at one.
Henry Cone took over in relief and quickly found trouble. After two hits, Utah Valley's CJ Colyer delivered the decisive blow: a towering three-run home run to left-center that swung the game for good in Utah Valley's favor.
Just hours later, facing elimination, the Wildcats came back in game two, defeating Utah Tech, 9–5, in a back-and-forth battle that swung dramatically in the final frame.
ACU wasted no time setting the tone. Zandt Payne drew a leadoff walk, and Benjamin Greer followed with an RBI double to deep left-center. Diego Cardenas then crushed a two-run home run to stake the Wildcats to a 3–0 lead in the top of the first.
Utah Tech chipped away with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, eventually tying the game at 3–3. In the seventh, two errors opened the door for the Trailblazers to push across two more runs, taking a 5–3 lead and putting ACU's season on the brink.
That set the stage for a remarkable rally in the ninth.
Cardenas led off the inning with a walk, with Borho getting hit by a pitch to build the momentum. Maddox Miesse followed with a clutch RBI single, then Sam Hardcastle came off the bench to deliver another run-scoring hit, tying the game at 5–5.
Given the opportunity, Nick Arias roped a two-run double down the left-field line to give ACU the lead. Two more runs followed one on a bases-loaded walk by Greer and another on a passed ball, capping six runs that flipped the game on its head.
Freshman Brady Coe, who pitched the final two innings, earned the win with a composed and effective outing, allowing just two hits and stranding the tying run at the plate in the ninth.
Greer, Cardenas, and Arias each had two RBIs, while ACU drew 12 walks as a team and showed relentless plate discipline throughout the contest.
ACU advances to face No. 7 UT Arlington, which eliminated No. 4 Grand Canyon, on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT as the Wildcats continue their pursuit of a WAC Championship and potential NCAA Regional bid.
