Wildcats Battle Back From Early Deficit, Outslug Bluejays in 12-11 Win

Saturday, February 28

Cleburne, Texas

2 p.m.

Abilene Christian

6-4

Creighton

2-6

Creighton

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Kaylee Kahn

Wildcats Battle Back From Early Deficit, Outslug Bluejays in 12-11 Win

2/28/2026 7:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Luke White

CLEBURNE, Texas - Abilene Christian baseball emerged victorious in a roller coaster of a ballgame as it took down Creighton 12-11 at La Moderna Field on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats battled back from an early four-run deficit and were powered by two long balls by Grant Watkins, his second straight multi-home run game.

ACU closes out the College Baseball Series versus Texas State at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Wildcats fell to the Bobcats, 5-4, on Friday night. Cade McGarrh is slated to start on the mound for ACU.

Watkins put the Wildcats in front for good with a seventh-inning solo shot after cutting the Bluejays' lead in half with a two-run blast in the third inning. He has hit home runs in three consecutive games, going deep five times in that span.

At the game's end, Watkins paced the Western Athletic Conference with seven home runs after a 2-for-4 day, driving in three runs and scoring three of his own. The next closest batter in the conference is ACU's Diego Cardenas with four home runs.

Zandt Payne shined with a team-high three hits and three runs batted in. He gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game in the fourth with a two-run single, then knotted the score at 10 in the fifth with an RBI single. Payne collected ACU's only stolen base.

Ryan Jones raised his batting average to .350 with a pair of hits after entering as a pinch hitter. Maddox Miesse plated a couple of runs as well. Brady Gray got the Wildcats' six-run fourth inning started with a solo home run. ACU has belted 21 home runs this season, averaging more than two per game.

Carson Wallace was credited with the win, allowing just one run in two relief innings with a pair of strikeouts. Brady Coe picked up his second save of the season with two scoreless frames and a punchout to seal the victory.

The Wildcats found themselves trailing early as the Bluejays led 4-0 entering the bottom of the third inning. Watkins sent a charge into ACU's offense with a two-run homer and set the table for its big fourth inning.

Gray kicked off the Wildcats' rally with a solo shot before they loaded the bases with a walk, a single and a hit batter. Payne singled through the left side to plate a pair and put ACU ahead, 5-4. Watkins' walk put ducks on the pond for Miesse to notch a two-run single of his own, while a fielding error allowed the final Wildcat to score. When the dust settled, they were in front, 8-4.

Creighton answered right back with its own six-run inning in the fifth to retake the lead at 10-8. Reese Borho's first hit of the season was a big one, tripling to plate Brady Ladusau in the bottom of the frame. Payne followed with an RBI single to even the score at 10.

ACU grabbed the lead again in the sixth inning after Gray led off with a walk before coming around to score on a wild pitch. The Bluejays tied it again in the seventh, but Watkins' home run in the bottom of the inning gave the Wildcats the lead for good.