ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Christian defeated Stephen F. Austin 7-4 in game one of the weekend series. ACU improves to to 11-3 (WAC 1-0) as SFA falls to 6-8 (WAC 0-1).
Joe Richter got the start today for the Lumberjacks and he gave the team his best outing of the season so far. In five innings, Richter only gave up one hit, struck out five, and most importantly, held the Wildcats from scoring.
The Lumberjacks got the scoring started in the third inning when Clayton Loranger was able to score from third on a passed ball. The highlight of the night for the ‘Jacks came in the top of the fifth when Alex Rodgers smashed the ball to deep left center field. When the ACU center fielder tried to make a play on the ball, he wasn’t able to come up with it and the ball bounced in the opposite direction, allowing Rodgers to round all the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
After five scoreless innings for the Wildcats, they were finally able to get the bats going in the bottom of the sixth, and score three runs off a walk, triple, and three consecutive singles. But the Lumberjacks responded right back the next half inning when Tom Biggs gave SFA the lead back with a two-run single to right center. With the 4-3 lead, the ‘Jacks were six outs away from the first WAC victory of the season.
Skip AdThat was until the Wildcats started an eighth inning rally that started off with a walk and a hit batter. Both of the runners were able to advance on a wild pitch, then the runner from third scored on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at four. Two singles and a double later, ACU regained the lead at 7-4 and was able to hold the ‘Jacks off in the ninth to win the game.
Rodgers went 2-for-5 on the night and picked up two runs and a RBI. Peyton Parker and Barrett Rose also picked up two hits in the game.
The Lumberjacks will look to rebound tomorrow for game two against the Wildcats at 3:05 p.m.