Wildcats Rip Season-High 15 Hits in WAC Opener

Friday, March 20

Abilene

2 p.m.

Abilene Christian

3-25, 0-1

UT Arlington

12-14, 1-0

UT Arlington

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Abbye Funderburk

Wildcats Rip Season-High 15 Hits in WAC Opener

3/20/2026 10:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Evan Nemec

ABILENE - The Abilene Christian softball team pounded the ball and found open spaces for 23 combined hits during Friday's conference-opening doubleheader, but lost both games to UT Arlington, 12-8 in 10 innings, and 11-6.

The Wildcats and Mavericks kicked off both teams' WAC schedules on a sunny afternoon with the temperature reaching 94 degrees, tying the record for the hottest March 20 in Abilene's recorded history.

Emalee Romero went 5-for-8 on the day while Ari Maxwell hit a home run in each game to extend her team-leading total to eight this season. Freshman Ciana Arugijo had four hits, and senior transfer Alaina Hampton smacked her first homer in two years.

Game 1: UT Arlington 12, ACU 8 (10 Innings)

ACU put up five runs in the 3rd inning as Elizabeth Schaefer's RBI single brought home Arguijo, and subsequent singles by Emalee Romero and Audrey Lacina, combined with a two-RBI single from Emerson Meggers, put the Cats ahead 5-1.

However, UTA used three unanswered home runs to retake the lead in the 6th. Ari Maxwell launched a ball over the fence in left center for a solo homer in the bottom of the frame.

The Mavericks went up by two when they scored from third on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the seventh, Alaina Hampton, who transferred from UTA to ACU over Christmas break, singled up the middle and knocked in Romero. During the next at-bat, pinch runner Julianna Martinez raced home on a passed ball and slid in safely to tie the game at 8-all, and send it to extra innings.

After no scoring in the 8th and 9th innings, UTA scored four times in top of the 10th with a home run and a two-RBI single.

The 2025 series opener between the Wildcats and Mavericks also went to extras with UTA pulling out a 4-3 win in 14 innings, making it the second-longest ACU game in program history. Friday was the first time ACU has played a 10-inning game at home since 2017.

Leah Meyer, who threw 4 terrific innings in an upset win at Utah in ACU's last outing, pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 runs on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts, while Ella Beeman also pitched 5 innings, giving up 5 earned runs. The pair combined for 10 innings and a total of 188 pitches.

Game 2: UT Arlington 11, ACU 6

UTA jumped to an early lead once again, scoring four runs in the second inning. Abilene Christian fought back to tie the game at 4–4 in the third, fueled by Ciana Arguijo's RBI single through the right side, and a three-run home run from Ari Maxwell which hit the top of the scoreboard in left.

However, UT Arlington regained control with four unearned runs in the fourth as a double to right turned into an inside-the-park round-tripper when Maxwell could not hold onto the ball in right field.

The Mavs extended their lead with three consecutive extra-base hits in the fifth. Alaina Hampton launched a solo homer to center field for her first long ball as a Wildcat. She entered Friday 0-for-19 at the plate, but went 2-for-6 with 3 RBI during the doubleheader.

Freshman Alissa Snipes, making her home collegiate debut, pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 8 runs, while Makayla Valle threw 3 1/3 innings in relief, including striking out the side in the sixth and tossing just a 3-pitch seventh.

Up Next

The finale between the Wildcats and Mavericks starts at 12 p.m. Saturday at Poly Wells Field. The matchup with be streamed on ESPN+.