MESA, Ariz. – A pair of dynamic games on the diamond set the tone for the opening day of the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament on Tuesday at Hohokam Stadium. No. 5 seed Abilene Christian kicked off the tournament with a 5-4 comeback win over No. 8 California Baptist before No. 7 UTRGV erased an early deficit to No. 6 UT Arlington in a 14-4 run-rule triumph in seven innings.

The 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament continues with four games on Wednesday, with No. 3 Utah Valley and No. 4 Seattle U set to square off at 9 a.m. MST. In the first elimination game of the tournament, No. 6 UT Arlington and No. 8 California Baptist will collide at noon MST. No. 5 Abilene Christian advanced to face No. 2 Sam Houston at 4 p.m. MST. No. 7 UTRGV will wrap up the day against No. 1 Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. MST. All games will air on ESPN+.

Game 1 – No. 5 Abilene Christian 5, No. 8 California Baptist 4 | Box Score
Fifth-seeded ACU and eighth-seeded CBU battled throughout in the tournament’s opening contest, trading the lead four times during the afternoon and scoring a combined five runs in the eighth inning alone. After Mitchel Simon and Josh Paino hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the eighth to give the Lancers a 4-2 lead, ACU responded with three runs of its own in the home half of the frame. Holden Rook drove in two Wildcats on a base hit to right with two outs to tie the game at 4-4, and Logan Britt delivered the game-winning RBI single one batter later to push ACU to the 5-4 victory.

Britt led all hitters with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, with a steal to go along with his RBI and a run scored. WAC Player of the Year Grayson Tatrow added a two-run home run in the first inning to the ACU ledger. Zach Smith pitched a scoreless top of the ninth with one strikeout to earn the save for the Wildcats.

Cole Howarth finished the day 3-for-4 with a mammoth home run over the batter’s eye and two RBI for CBU, adding to the solo shots from Simon and Paino. Jacob Wilson went 5.0 innings of three-hit relief, walking three with four strikeouts in a no decision.

Game 2 – No. 7 UTRGV 14, No. 6 UT Arlington 4 (7 innings) | Box Score 
UTRGV bounced back from a 2-0 deficit entering the top of the fourth inning and proceeded to score 14 runs on 12 hits over the final four frames to pick up the run-rule victory. The Vaqueros scored six in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and five runs in the top of the seventh inning to salt the win away.

Montclair Cain finished the game with three hits, three RBI and three runs for UTRGV, while Steven Lancia added three hits and three RBI. Brandon Pimentel added two hits, two RBI and three runs for the Vaqueros. Angelo Cabral went 6.1 innings on the hill, scattering six hits but only allowing one earned run while walking three and striking out five on 109 pitches to earn the win.

Garrison Berkley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs to pace UTA out of the leadoff spot. Tyson Pointer and Cade Sumbler also chipped in RBI for the Mavericks.

 

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