Pair of Tight Losses for ACU at Bevo Classic

Friday, February 13

Austin, TX

9:30 a.m.

Abilene Christian

0-9

Northern Illinois

1-0

Abilene Christian

Northern Illinois

Ari Maxwell prepares for a pitch at the Bevo Classic in Austin on February 13, 2026

Photo by: Aly Bayliss

2/13/2026 5:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Evan Nemec

AUSTIN, Texas — The Abilene Christian softball team suffered a pair of close losses on its second day of the Bevo Classic in Austin, dropping games to Northern Illinois 7-5, and Syracuse, 2-1.

Outfielder Ari Maxwell went 3-for-7 on the day, including an RBI double.

The losses dropped the Wildcats to an 0-10 record overall. They'll finish the event with two more games on Saturday at Red and Charline McCombs Field

Game 1: Northern Illinois 7, ACU 5

The Wildcats got off to a strong start, scoring five runs in the first two innings. Valerie Ornelas started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Ciana Arguijo. In the second inning, Audrey Lacina came home on a single by Kyana Lipardo. Arguijo reached on an error, which allowed two more runs to score and Emerson Meggers capped the inning with a double, driving in another run to give ACU a 5-3 advantage.

Northern Illinois answered back, scoring runs in the third and fourth innings to level the game at 5-5. In the sixth inning, the Huskies took control with two more runs, including a solo home run, sealing the game at 7-5.

Ella Beeman pitched 4 innings for the Wildcats, allowing 9 hits and 5 runs (only 2 earned), while walking 4 and striking out 2. She faced 26 batters and threw 82 pitches. Makayla Valle relieved her for 2 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 earned runs, including a home run.

Jadyn Dawson recorded a triple, and Taylor Christensen added two hits and a stolen base.

Game 2: Syracuse 2, ACU 1

In the matchup against Syracuse, the Wildcats struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Orange scored on a bases loaded walk in the second, but did not come across again until the sixth.

Lipardo managed to score the equalizer in the sixth inning on a wild pitch after she singled and was batted around to third on consecutive infield groundouts. Just as ACU seemed to gain momentum, Syracuse responded with a sacrifice fly, regaining the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth.

Leah Meyer had a strong outing in the circle, pitching a complete game while throwing 109 pitches (74 strikes). She gave up just 5 hits and 2 runs, with only 1 earned run, and recorded 6 strikeouts against 27 batters faced.

UP NEXT

Saturday's action begins at 9:30 a.m. against Ohio State, which is receiving votes in a national poll. ACU caps the Bevo Classic by facing Northern Illinois again at 12 p.m.