ABILENE, Texas – Tarleton State Baseball dropped the midweek matchup to the Wildcats after a weather delay turned into the game's conclusion in the fifth inning.
Tarleton State (22-19, 12-9 WAC) went cold at the plate against Abilene Christian (24-17, 11-7 WAC) with bad weather shutting down the evening in the fifth to see a 7-0 final in favor of the home team.
A big seven-run second inning for the Wildcats saw the only runs of the evening as the clouds rolled in during the fifth inning to shut the door on a comeback for the Texans.
Jake Burcham (L, 1-4) got the start for the Texans with 1.0 inning on the mound, giving up three runs on two hits, one walk and no strikeouts.
Cade McGarrh took the mound to start things off for Abilene Christian with 1.0 inning on the bump, giving up no runs on no hits, two walks and no strikeouts. Rolando De La Cruz (W, 1-2) saw 4.0 innings pitched, giving up no runs on two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Tarleton State finished with no runs on two hits.
The Wildcats compiled seven runs on seven hits with a lone home run, a double and a pair of stolen bases.
In the top of the first, a couple of walks added a pair of runners onto the base path for Tarleton State but two outs followed, leaving the pair stranded. A quick three up, three down closed out the home team's half of the inning.
The bottom of the second saw a leadoff single followed by a homer to left field to bring in the first couple of runs, putting ACU on the board first. A walk followed by a single put another pair of runners on and the five-hole singled on a bunt to bring in the third run. A Wildcat was caught stealing second but made way for another run to come home. Another walk followed by an RBI single tallied five for the home team. A single to right was followed by a wild pitch to advance the runners and a passed ball welcomed in the sixth run. A flyout brough in the final run of the inning and the game.
The Tarleton State offense picked up in the third but couldn't finish. A leadoff single from
Ike Shirey and a wild pitch saw the Texans' shortstop in scoring position.
Mason Hammonds walked to add another to the base path and
Cole Miears was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out on the board. Two consecutive outs followed to close out the inning with a trio of runners left on.
The top of the fourth saw a single from
Mason Crews put a runner on with two outs recorded. The third out followed leaving Crews aboard.
A double from ACU in the bottom of the inning saw a lone runner in scoring position but the third out came next to leave one on for the Wildcats.
In the bottom of the fifth, as
Zach Poe came to take the mound, mother nature decided to take the reins and shut the door on the evening to see a 7-0 final after five innings.
The Texans will hit the road as they head to the west coast to take on Sacramento State for another weekend of WAC play beginning Friday.
