Thompson's Career Effort Rallies ACU in 9-2 Win Over Utah Valley

Friday, May 8

Abilene, Texas

6 p.m.

Abilene Christian

24-25, 7-6

Utah Valley

15-33, 1-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Utah Valley	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	0
Abilene Christian	0	0	1	0	0	4	4	0	X	9	9	1

JT Thompson prepares to swing in ACU's series versus St. Thomas at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark on Feb. 13-15, 2026.

Photo by: Kaylee Kahn

Thompson's Career Effort Rallies ACU in 9-2 Win Over Utah Valley

5/8/2026 10:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Luke White

ABILENE - JT Thompson matched his career highs with three hits and four RBIs as Abilene Christian baseball picked up a 9-2 win over Utah Valley on Friday night. The Wildcats climbed to third in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a pair of four-run innings at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark.

ACU looks to clinch its third straight series when it meets Utah Valley at 3 p.m. Saturday. Senior Weekend in Abilene continues with a pregame ceremony honoring the Wildcats' 13 seniors. Brett Lanman is penciled in as ACU's starting pitcher.

Thompson went 3 for 4 at the plate and drove in four runs, featuring a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning. He has hits in 16 of his last 18 games and reached base safely for the 19th game in a row. It's his 14th multi-hit game of the season.

Zandt Payne and Nick Arias collected a couple of hits apiece and each scored twice. After the Wolverines got on the board in the second inning with a solo homer, Payne evened the score with an RBI double to plate Kanon Sundgren. It's his 21st multi-hit game and 17th multi-run effort, both team highs. He has nine games with multiple RBIs. Payne stole a base and is a perfect 7 of 7 on the basepaths this year.

Arias elevated his hitting streak to 11 games and made it aboard for the 19th consecutive contest. He moved the Wildcats in front, 6-2, with a seventh-inning RBI double. Grant Watkins, Maddox Miesse and Brady Ladusau also drove in runs.

Aidan Coleman came through with one of his top outings of the year, matching his season low with three hits in seven innings. He took home his sixth win of the season, tying for second in the conference. Coleman surrendered just two runs and struck out three batters.

Baron Mannis and Blaine Palmer each logged a scoreless inning in relief, allowing no hits and totaling three punchouts.

Utah Valley held onto a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of solo shots. Payne got ACU's rally started with a leadoff double in the sixth, and a walk to Diego Cardenas and Arias' bunt single loaded the bases with no outs.

An impressive play by the Wolverines' shortstop retired Miesse on a groundout, allowing the tying run to score. Thompson put the Wildcats ahead for good with a 4-2 lead on a two-run single to center field. Watkins brought home the fourth run of the inning with an RBI double to right field, scoring Thompson and making it a 5-2 ballgame.

ACU carried its momentum into the seventh, striking for another four runs. Arias' RBI double sent Payne home before Miesse walked to load the bases. Thompson poked a single to left field to tack on two more runs. Ladusau kept the train moving, reaching on an RBI fielder's choice that allowed Miesse to race home.