Thursday, March 12
Salt Lake City, UT
1 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
3-24
9
at
4
Utah
23-6
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2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
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7th innning7
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ErrorsE
Abilene Christian
2
4
2
0
0
1
0
9
10
1
Utah
0
2
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3
Photo by: Aly Bayliss
ACU Crushes (RV) Utah For First Power 4 Win Since 2022
3/12/2026 4:02:00 PM | Softball
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- The Abilene Christian softball team sprinted out to a 6-0 early lead, and then used strong relief pitching to take down the Utah Utes 9-4 in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday afternoon.
The victory is ACU's sixth ever over a Power 4 program, and the first since defeating Texas Tech in Abilene on April 20, 2022. Utah was receiving votes in the latest national rankings from both ESPN and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
How It Happened
The Wildcats, who had only scored five runs in their previous six games, started hot with eight runs in the first three innings.
Ari Maxwell hit a worm-burner triple to left-center that drove Ciana Arguijo home, and then late dashed home on a passed ball to put ACU ahead 2-0 after one inning.
In the second, ACU capitalized on Utah mistakes.Savannah Crocker hit a two-out single, and Argujio reached on a fielding error. With the inning extended, Maxwell hit a hard shot to third which loaded the bases and Elizabeth Schaefer knocked a 2-RBI single to right.
Emalee Romero then provided another 2-RBI base hit, scoring Maxwell and Schaefer and putting the Wildcats in front 6-0.
The Utes, who were riding a 13-game winning streak, got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second. But ACU responded when Arguijo laid down a perfect bunt just feet in front of home plate. Utah's catcher shuffled ahead to field the ball but as she threw to first she was shoved from behind by her own teammate trying to cover. The ball rolled into right field which allowed Valerie Ornelas and Crocker to come home on the error.
With an 8-3 lead in the fourth, starting pitcher Alissa Snipes was replaced in the circle by Leah Meyer. She inherited Utah runners ont he corners, but after the Utes scored on a fielder's choice Meyer threw a strike out to end the inning. It was the first of several big-time battles Meyer won on the day as she tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just one hit and striking out six which ties her season-high.
The Wildcats added another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Schaefer as Meyer retired Utah in order in the bottom of the seventh, punctuating the win with a strike out of the final batter.
Utah entered the series with ACU having just swept No. 21 Arizona State in its Big 12 opening weekend. The Utes were named Sports Illustrated's Softball on SI Team of the Week.
Stars of the Game
Leadoff hitter Ciana Arguijo went 3/4 with three runs, while Elizabeth Schaefer drove in three runs on a 2/4 day at the plate. Third baseman Emalee Romero also had a multi-RBI game as she brought two Wildcats home. Ari Maxwell was 2/4, including her first triple of the season, and scored twice.
Relief pitcher Leah Meyer went 4.0 innings with no runs allowed and six strikeouts on 76 pitches.
Power 4 Wins
ACU's six victories over Power 4 competition have come against Texas Tech (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022), Iowa (2017), and now Utah (2025).
Coach Said It...
Second-year head coach Jo Koons on the win: "I'm really proud of our team. To get our first Power 4 win in four years is a testament to their belief and the work they've continued to put in. We challenged them with a really tough preseason schedule, and they've had every opportunity to get discouraged, btu instead they've responded with resilience.
"Because of that, I believe they're incredibly prepared to take on the conference schedule ahead with our eyes fixed on a WAC championship."
Up Next
The Wildcats have eight days before they take the field again for the season's first WAC contests. ACU will host UT Arlington for a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on March 20, and a single game on Saturday, March 21 beginning at 12 p.m. which serves as the program's She Can Be Game presented by Dr. Leslie Hutchins.
All three games are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
The victory is ACU's sixth ever over a Power 4 program, and the first since defeating Texas Tech in Abilene on April 20, 2022. Utah was receiving votes in the latest national rankings from both ESPN and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
How It Happened
The Wildcats, who had only scored five runs in their previous six games, started hot with eight runs in the first three innings.
Ari Maxwell hit a worm-burner triple to left-center that drove Ciana Arguijo home, and then late dashed home on a passed ball to put ACU ahead 2-0 after one inning.
In the second, ACU capitalized on Utah mistakes.Savannah Crocker hit a two-out single, and Argujio reached on a fielding error. With the inning extended, Maxwell hit a hard shot to third which loaded the bases and Elizabeth Schaefer knocked a 2-RBI single to right.
Emalee Romero then provided another 2-RBI base hit, scoring Maxwell and Schaefer and putting the Wildcats in front 6-0.
The Utes, who were riding a 13-game winning streak, got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second. But ACU responded when Arguijo laid down a perfect bunt just feet in front of home plate. Utah's catcher shuffled ahead to field the ball but as she threw to first she was shoved from behind by her own teammate trying to cover. The ball rolled into right field which allowed Valerie Ornelas and Crocker to come home on the error.
With an 8-3 lead in the fourth, starting pitcher Alissa Snipes was replaced in the circle by Leah Meyer. She inherited Utah runners ont he corners, but after the Utes scored on a fielder's choice Meyer threw a strike out to end the inning. It was the first of several big-time battles Meyer won on the day as she tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just one hit and striking out six which ties her season-high.
The Wildcats added another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Schaefer as Meyer retired Utah in order in the bottom of the seventh, punctuating the win with a strike out of the final batter.
Utah entered the series with ACU having just swept No. 21 Arizona State in its Big 12 opening weekend. The Utes were named Sports Illustrated's Softball on SI Team of the Week.
Stars of the Game
Leadoff hitter Ciana Arguijo went 3/4 with three runs, while Elizabeth Schaefer drove in three runs on a 2/4 day at the plate. Third baseman Emalee Romero also had a multi-RBI game as she brought two Wildcats home. Ari Maxwell was 2/4, including her first triple of the season, and scored twice.
Relief pitcher Leah Meyer went 4.0 innings with no runs allowed and six strikeouts on 76 pitches.
Power 4 Wins
ACU's six victories over Power 4 competition have come against Texas Tech (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022), Iowa (2017), and now Utah (2025).
Coach Said It...
Second-year head coach Jo Koons on the win: "I'm really proud of our team. To get our first Power 4 win in four years is a testament to their belief and the work they've continued to put in. We challenged them with a really tough preseason schedule, and they've had every opportunity to get discouraged, btu instead they've responded with resilience.
"Because of that, I believe they're incredibly prepared to take on the conference schedule ahead with our eyes fixed on a WAC championship."
Up Next
The Wildcats have eight days before they take the field again for the season's first WAC contests. ACU will host UT Arlington for a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on March 20, and a single game on Saturday, March 21 beginning at 12 p.m. which serves as the program's She Can Be Game presented by Dr. Leslie Hutchins.
All three games are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Meyer, Leah (1-6)
L: Miranda, Raci (7-1)
Batting:
3B: Maxwell, Ari 1
RBI: Schaefer, Elizabeth 3 ; Maxwell, Ari 1 ; Romero, Emalee 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schaefer, Elizabeth 1 ; Maxwell, Ari 2 ; Crocker, Savannah 2 ; Arguijo, Ciana 3 ; Ornelas, Valerie 1
SB: Schaefer, Elizabeth 1 ; Arguijo, Ciana 2
Batting:
RBI: Proctor, Kennedy 2 ; Gomez, Mia 1 ; Lyon, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cruz, Izzy 2 ; Noli, Cian 1 ; White, Hailee 1
HBP: Cruz, Izzy 1 ; Gomez, Mia 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
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