ABILENE - Seven strikeouts from
Caitlyn Crain combined with a pair of two-run bombs from
Erin Gilliland and
Megan Brigance powered the Abilene Christian softball team to a 4-1 victory Friday night at Poly Wells Field.
Games two and three of the series will take place Saturday starting at 12 p.m.
The victory lifted ACU's season and conference marks to 27-11 and 13-7, while the Zias dropped to 12-31 and 4-17.
Crain (13-4) retired the first nine batters she faced, and didn't allow a base runner until the fourth when Melanie Alderette hit a leadoff single. Then in the seventh, the Zias finally lit their half of the scoreboard when Josette Aguirre came home on Kuuleiokealoha VonSchriltz' fly ball to center field.
ACU put runners on base against starter Amy Smith (8-17) in every inning, but could only score on the long ball. Gilliland connected first with her two-run shot in the second, and then Brigance went deep with two outs in the fifth. Brigance's home run was her fourth of the year, and for Gilliland, it was her second.
Madison Buckley led all Wildcats with two hits, finishing her night 2 for 4.
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Abilene Christian 4, Eastern New Mexico 1 (Apr 13, 2012 at Abilene, TX)
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Eastern New Mexico.. 000 000 1 - 1 4 1 (12-31, 13-7 LSC)
Abilene Christian... 020 020 X - 4 7 1 (27-11, 4-17 LSC)
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Pitchers: Eastern New Mexico - Amy Smith and Aurelia Sandoval. Abilene Christian - Caitlyn Crain
and Erin Gilliland.
Win-Caitlyn Crain(13-4) Loss-Amy Smith(8-17) T-1:33 A-107
HR ACU - Megan Brigance (4); Erin Gilliland (2).
Weather: 78, Partly Cloudy, SSE Wind 20
