Wildcats sweep Lumberjacks as offense shines again

Sunday, March 20

Abilene

1:05 p.m.

Abilene Christian

11-8, 4-2

SFA

4-13, 0-6

Stephen F. Austin

Abilene Christian

Wildcats sweep Lumberjacks as offense shines again

3/20/2022 5:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

ABILENE – Get those broom out. The ACU baseball team pulled off the weekend sweep of the SFA Lumberjacks at Crutcher Scott Field on Sunday afternoon, topping the longtime rivals, 11-6. The Wildcats (11-8, 4-2 WAC) completed the weekend sweep, scoring 34 total runs on 42 hits in the process. Despite ACU falling behind in the second inning, 3-0, the team rallied quickly in the home half, got the lead in the third, and never looked back. ACU pulls off its first WAC sweep in its history, and now sits at 4-2 in league play after the second conference weekend.

Getcha 🧹🧹🧹 out.#ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/S90CzzbMme
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 20, 2022

How It Happened
- SFA jumped in front with a three-run second inning off ACU starter Garrett Egli. It was the first time ACU trailed first in a game in the series.
- ACU got two of the three runs right back in the bottom of the second. The 'Cats put runners on the corners, and Aaron Staehely rolled one to short. The DH beat out the potential double play, allowing Bash Randle to score. Bryson Hill then followed with an rbi-single to score Staehely, getting ACU within one, 3-2.
- The third inning is when everything changed. Miller Ladusau singled to right center field to plate Colton Eager to tie the game. Then the Wildcats used the extra-base hit. Staehely and Brett Hammit each hit doubles to bring in two runs, giving ACU a 5-3 advantage. It was the final lead change of the game.

Not 1️⃣, not 2️⃣, but 3️⃣ runs in the third!@ladusau_m | @aaron_s12 | @BeRett21 #ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/kNugfgou7C
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 20, 2022

- Eager grounded out in the fourth to plate Grayson Tatrow. ACU led 6-3 at that point.
- The RBI kept coming for Eager, who doubled to left field to score Tatrow and Bryson Hill. The lead was opening up, and ACU was pulling away, 8-3.

Two more! @coltoneager #ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/TLSxbrHwdZ
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 20, 2022

- A single and a wild pitch scored two SFA runs in the top of the seventh, but the comeback to get it to 8-5 would prove to be futile.
- Eager added another RBI to his total with a fielder's choice, scoring Hammit in the home seventh.
- Hill was at the forefront of two more runs in the eighth, the first coming on his rbi-single, and the second coming on a bad throw into center field after he stole second base. ACU led 11-5 and held on 11-6.

Insurance provided by @Bryson_Hill16!#ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/lnfbW5uwhf
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 20, 2022

Stat Pack
- The Wildcats recorded 13 hits on the day, coming from just five players. Hill led the way with a four-hit day, while Eager and Ladusau tallied three hits apiece.
- Eager led the way with four runs driven in, one short of his season-best. He also tallied a season-high two stolen bases.
- Staehely and Hill each drove in two runs, while Staehely, Hammit, Ladusau, and Tatrow each scored two runs apiece.
- Tatrow reached base four times with two hits and two walks.
- Egli went 1.1 innings in the start, and Carter Sells then took over and earned the win, throwing 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. It was the first win of the season for Sells. He did not allow a hit in the 11 outs recorded.
- Drake Boggan and Zach Smith through an inning each, with Adam Byrd throwing 1.2 frames, and Connor Carlton getting the final out of the game.

Beyond the Box Score
- It was the first win of Carter Sells' ACU career.
- It is the third three-game winning streak of the season for the 'Cats.
- After not having double-digit hits in 10 games coming into the weekend, ACU did it in all three games this weekend.
- The six stolen bases for ACU Sunday marked the most of the Rick McCarty era, and the most in a single game since ACU did it seven times against Prairie View A&M on April 4, 2018.

Up Next
- The Wildcats welcome in the #21 TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday, March 22. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.

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#ATO | #GoWildcats