ACU Offense Quieted By West Texas Pitchers In Doubleheader Loss

ABILENE - West Texas A&M junior starting pitcher Billy Gonzalez lost his bids for a perfect game and no-hitter in the final frame of a scheduled 7.0-inning game between the Buffaloes and Abilene Christian Friday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field. A game which the visitors still won, 8-0.

Gonzalez (5-0) had retired every Wildcat in the second game of today's doubleheader until the bottom of the seventh when freshman Tyler Eager reached on shortstop's Jordan Easom's fielding error. Michael Cristiani then followed with a single through the right side of the infield that Eager booted on his way to second, and according to the NCAA Baseball Statistics Rules (section 4), "a base hit is credited when a batter advances to first base safely when a fair ball that has not been touched by a fielder touches a runner (Eager) or an umpire."

Gonzalez, however disappointed he may have been internally, remained composed on the mound and got designated hitter Kyle Conwell to ground into a game-ending  5-4-3 double play. Gonzalez finished the game having faced the minimum 21 batters, and recorded 10 ground outs and two Ks on just 76 pitches. 

The Buffs scored all the runs they needed for Gonzalez with their run in the first, but went on to score five more times in the fourth, followed by a two-run seventh. First baseman Parker Wood led the Buffs in game two with three hits, while Easom and Cody Wright each had two RBI.

Josh Stone (4-3) suffered the loss for ACU in game two despite striking out seven through 6.0 innings of work.

Game one featured a pitchers' duel in which Ryan Houston (3-2) edged Jordan Herrera (2-6), 2-1. Both hurlers pitched a 7.0 inning complete game and combined for 11 strikeouts - six of which were Herrera's.

West Texas scored its lone runs of the game in the first inning on a two-run home run to left field by Kendall Boone. ACU cut its deficit in half in the second when Chuck Durate scored an unearned run on an error by catcher Chad Miles, who was trying to throw Reed Watson out at first base. The throw came in low and bounced over the glove of infielder Jess Cooper, allowing Duarte to motor home from second.

The Wildcats placed three more runners in scoring position over the next 5.0 innings, but came up empty each time against Houston and his infielders, who were responsible for 14 putouts.

Herrera allowed just four more hits after surrendering Boone's round-tripper, and from the second to seventh innings he faced just one batter over the minimum.

The Wildcats (19-17, 7-8 LSC) and Buffaloes (24-9, 11-4 LSC) conclude their four-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.

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West Texas 2, Abilene Christian 1 (Apr 06, 2012 at Abilene, TX) (Game 1)
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