ABILENE, Texas – A five run fifth inning from the Abilene Christian Wildcats proved too much to come back from for Tarleton as they dropped the middle game of the series, 8-4, at Crutcher Scott Field on Saturday afternoon.
Tarleton (24-23, 8-16 WAC) held a 3-2 lead entering the fifth inning, but ACU (30-20, 14-12 WAC) scored five runs on three hits and a Texan error to go up 7-3 and eventually win 8-3 to tie the series at a game apiece.
The Texans brought home two runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead as
Jordan Andrade hit an RBI single to left field and
Mason Crews scored on a wild pitch.
Carter Dobrinski added to the Texan lead with a solo home run to right center field in the third inning, making it 3-0.
Tarleton got 4.0 innings out of starting pitcher
Dylan Delvecchio as he allowed three runs on six hits, walked three and struck out five.
Delvecchio exited with two runners on and no outs in the fifth.
Isiah Campa (L, 1-1) entered and threw to five batters, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks.
Matt Haley came in for Campa in the fifth and threw 1.2 scoreless innings allowing a lone hit.
Grant Garza threw the final 2.0 innings allowing one run on one hit.
ACU's Tyler Morgan (W, 3-4) threw 7.0 innings of relief for the Wildcats after the Texans forced starter Max Huffling out of the game in the second inning. Morgan allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out six and walked one.
Tarleton added a run in the eighth inning when
Brandon Howell singled to center field, scoring
Alec Williams to make it 8-4.
Jack Wagner finished with two hits while seven other Texans each recorded a hit. Howell, Andrade and Dobrinski all drove in runs. Williams scored two runs.
The series finale and rubber match is set for a 1:05 p.m. CT first pitch from Crutcher Scott Field on Sunday.
