Watkins’ Grand Slam Paves Way for 9-4 ACU Win at Stephen F. Austin

Wednesday, March 25

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Stephen F. Austin

Grant Watkins celebrates a double in ACU's matchup versus Incarnate Word in San Antonio on March 11, 2026.

Photo by: Kaylee Kahn

Watkins’ Grand Slam Paves Way for 9-4 ACU Win at Stephen F. Austin

3/26/2026 12:32:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Luke White

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Abilene Christian baseball scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 9-4 win over Stephen F. Austin at Pilgrim's Park on Wednesday night. The Wildcats cycled through nine pitchers and held the Lumberjacks scoreless through seven innings.

ACU continues its eight-game road trip this weekend with a three-game series versus McNeese in Lake Charles, La. It opens the series at 6 p.m. Friday before meeting the Cowboys at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats wrap up the weekend at 12 p.m. Sunday.

ACU grabbed the lead before an out was recorded in the first inning. Zandt Payne led off with a walk ahead of a Diego Cardenas single, and Ryan Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Grant Watkins rose to the occasion with a 435-foot grand slam to center field, matching Cardenas for the team lead in home runs with 13 this season.

It was part of a 2-for-4 night for Watkins that saw him drive in a fifth run with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning. It was his eighth multi-RBI game of the season. Nick Arias and Cardenas collected two hits and two walks apiece, with Cardenas and JT Thompson each extending their hitting streaks to eight games.

Payne found his way on base with a trio of walks, reaching base safely for the 19th game in a row. He scored three times for his 10th game of the season scoring multiple runs. Five Wildcats were walked two or more times as ACU took advantage of 13 free passes.

Baron Mannis began ACU's pitching carousel with his second start of the season. He faced the minimum through two hitless frames, striking out a pair. David Jeon punched out a batter in a scoreless third inning and was credited with the win. Eight Wildcats didn't allow a run, with Collin Adams working two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his second appearance of the season.

Following its four-run first inning, ACU added a run in the second after a walk and a Cardenas double. Jones grounded out to first base, plating Payne. The Wildcats scored two more insurance runs in the fourth behind Watkins' walk and an RBI groundout by Brady Ladusau.

ACU grabbed an 8-0 advantage in the fifth inning when Thompson came on an error. The Lumberjacks cut the Wildcats' lead in half with a four-run eighth inning before ACU added one more run in the ninth behind Arias' RBI single.