Abilene Christian
4-28
Texas Tech
35-2
Wildcat Fielders Make Highlight Plays Against #2 Texas Tech
3/31/2026 10:44:00 PM | Softball
ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Christian softball team turned a pair of double plays and shut out No. 2 Texas Tech in three innings, but lost to the Red Raiders 9-1 in front of a strong crowd of 885 fans on Tuesday evening at Poly Wells Field.
The Wildcats allowed two runs in the first inning before Emalee Romero made a heads-up play to snatch a line drive out of the air and tap third base with her glove for an inning-ending double play.
ACU's fielders got another double play in the next frame when second baseman Emerson Meggers shuffled to collect a ground ball, stepped on second and fired to Dawson at first for the second out. It is the first time this season the Wildcats have turned multiple double plays in the same game. ACU accomplished the feat in three games in 2025 -- a neutral-site matchup with New Mexico State (March 1), at Seattle U (March 8), and at UT Arlington (March 21).
ACU scored on a sacrifice fly by Jadyn Dawson in the fourth inning, and managed three hits on the day.
“It is good we had it to warm us up for the weekend,” ACU head coach Jo Koons said about Tuesday's game in preparation for their three-game series at Tarleton State. “I'm thankful we had it, but definitely looking forward to going back to WAC play.”
Texas Tech took an early lead in the first inning with Mihyia Davis and Kaitlyn Terry scoring, assisted by a Jackie Lis RBI double.
The Red Raiders, now 35-2 overall, plated seven runs in third as two wild pitches and two walks by ACU allowed the rally to grow.
The Cats began the bottom of the fourth when Ari Maxwell hit a ball which landed safely in right field. Three Tech fielders ran to make the catch, but the ball bounced high in the air over the right fielder's head. That fortuitous hop allowed Maxwell to sprint to second for a lead-off double.
Romero then singled up the middle, pushing Maxwell to third. Dawson, a freshman, came on to do her job with a fly out to left which was deep enough to score Maxwell.
Tech superstar NiJaree Canady, the most decorated college softball player of all-time, entered the lineup in the fifth. But, on her first pitch, ACU’s Makayla Valle forced a foul out to first base. Canady then pitched the bottom of the fifth, striking out all three ACU batters she faced.
Leah Meyer started the game for Abilene Christian, pitching 2 innings and allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs. She faced 9 batters, walked 1, and recorded no strikeouts, throwing 34 pitches with 22 strikes. Alissa Snipes came in for relief, pitching 1 inning and surrendering 4 hits, 6 earned runs, and 2 walks, while also allowing a home run. Valle pitched 2 innings without giving up a run, allowing just 1 hit and 2 walks, managing to keep Texas Tech scoreless during her appearance.
Coach Said It...
On pitchers Leah Meyer and Makayla Valle
”Leah and Makayla kept them off-balance. We've just got to keep working offensively. The defense played pretty well. We made some good plays, got out of some innings. I am happy with their performance.”
Up Next
ACU takes its shortest road trip of the season to face off with Tarleton State in Stephenville. Due to forecasted rain, the series schedule has changed to a single game on Thursday, and a doubleheader on Friday.
Thursday's game begins at 6 p.m., while the twinbill on Friday gets underway at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Terry, Kaitlyn (14-0)
L: Meyer, Leah (2-7)
Batting:
2B: Lis, Jackie 1
HR: Toney, Hailey 1
RBI: Williams, Mia 2 ; Lis, Jackie 3 ; Toney, Hailey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis, Mihyia 2 ; Terry, Kaitlyn 2 ; Williams, Mia 1 ; Lis, Jackie 1 ; Spearman, Desirae 1 ; Toney, Hailey 1 ; Allred, Lauren 1
SB: Davis, Mihyia 1 ; Terry, Kaitlyn 1 ; Lis, Jackie 1 ; Spearman, Desirae 1
CS: Davis, Mihyia 1
Batting:
2B: Maxwell, Ari 1
RBI: Dawson, Jadyn 1
SF: Dawson, Jadyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maxwell, Ari 1
