McGarrh Strong as Wildcats Fall Late in Pitchers Duel to Wolverines

Saturday, May 9

Abilene, Texas

3 p.m.

Abilene Christian

24-26, 7-7

Utah Valley

16-33, 2-12

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

Cade McGarrh delivers a pitch in ACU's 8-7 win over Oral Roberts at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark on Feb. 22, 2026.

Photo by: Kaylee Kahn

McGarrh Strong as Wildcats Fall Late in Pitchers Duel to Wolverines

5/9/2026 7:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Luke White

ABILENE - Abilene Christian baseball couldn't outlast Utah Valley in a pitchers duel on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 5-3 loss to the Wolverines at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark. Utah Valley took the lead with a three-run ninth inning, and ACU's comeback attempt fell short after plating a run in the bottom of the frame.

The Wildcats look to secure their third straight series victory in Sunday's rubber game. First pitch has been rescheduled to 11 a.m. in advance of inclement weather. It's ACU's home finale as the team celebrates Mother's Day at The Crutch.

Grant Watkins put the Wildcats on the board in the opening frame with a two-out, two-run double. The Wolverines answered with a pair of RBI fielder's choices in the next inning, knotting the score at 2. Both teams were held scoreless until the ninth, when Utah Valley's three-run homer broke the ice.

ACU mounted a two-out rally in its last chance at bat. Zandt Payne and Diego Cardenas drew walks, and Nick Arias laced a single up the middle to bring home a run. With two runners aboard, though, the Wildcats couldn't push any more across.

Cade McGarrh was excellent out of the bullpen, offering four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with a strikeout.

Arias collected a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He's reached base safely in 20 consecutive matchups alongside JT Thompson. Arias is second on the team with 17 multi-hit performances. Watkins has a hit in 10 straight games, while Cardenas has made it aboard in 17 in a row. Watkins matched Cardenas with a team-high 12 multi-RBI games.

Payne drew a career-high four walks and scored twice. He paces the Wildcats with 18 multi-run efforts. Payne and pinch runner Braden Regala each stole a base. Defensively, Brady Gray and Kanon Sundgren each caught a runner stealing. Gray tallied one of ACU's four hits.