Late run lifts ACU past Kats in finale

Sunday, April 9

Huntsville

1:00 PM

20-13, 12-3

Abilene Christian

23-8, 8-4

Abilene Christian

Sam Houston

Justin Wishkoski swings at a pitch against ACU

Late run lifts ACU past Kats in finale

4/9/2023 5:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston could not recapture that late-inning magic in an 8-7 loss to Abilene Christian to close out a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Don Sanders Stadium on Sunday.

The Bearkats (20-13, 12-3 WAC) won the first two games to clinch the series Saturday. Sam Houston topped the Wildcats (23-8, 8-4) 5-1 in game one of a doubleheader then Jake Tatom hit a walk-off two-run double for a 4-3 victory in game two.

The Kats trailed 8-6 in the ninth inning when Justin Wishkoski and Tyler Davis both singled to begin the frame. Wishkoski scored on a double-play ball, but ACU got a strikeout to end the game.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-0 lead through the first two and a half innings before Sam Houston finally got cooking offensively.

Clayton Chadwick drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the third and scored when Joe Redfield crushed a home run to right center field. Wishkoski singled through the left side and stole second base to setup an RBI double by Davis to cut the lead to 7-3.

Tatom laced an RBI double down the right field line in the fourth, and Joe Redfield singled down the right field line to plate another run in the frame. Davis made it 7-6 in the seventh when he drove in Redfield on a fielder's choice, but ACU scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the eighth.

Sam Houston will travel to Houston on Tuesday for game two of the Don Sanders Cup at 6:30 p.m.