HUNTSVILLE – For the second straight game, the Bearkats saved the drama for the end.
Lane Brewster delivered a bases-loaded single to score
Brandon Pruitt in the bottom of the 9
th to win the Western Athletic Conference Southwest Division.
The walk-off 5-4 victory over ACU capped off a come-from-behind effort from the Kats, who entered the bottom of the 8
th inning trailing 4-1. It also gives the Bearkats the No. 1 seed in their half of the bracket for next week's Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Mesa Arizona.
After taking an early 1-0 lead in the third, the Kats missed on a few chances to build on the advantage. ACU then scored four unanswered, including a run in the 8
th on a bases-loaded walk.
The Kats answered right back. Easton Lloyd led off the 8
th with a home run to right.
Myles Jefferson and
Christian Smith followed with 1-out singles. Brewster then walked to set up
Justin Wishkoski with the bases loaded. The junior first baseman delivered a 2-run single to tie game at 4.
Logan Hewitt, who picked up the win, entered the game in the 9
th and made short work of the Wildcats with a pair of strikeouts.
In the bottom of the 9
th, Smith and
Anthony MacKenzie both drew two-out walks to load the bases for Brewster. On a 2-2 pitch, the freshman from League City ripped a line drive to the right-center gap to plate Pruitt, who had entered the game as a pinch runner.
The Bearkats will now turn their attention to the WAC Tournament which will be played at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The Kats are the No. 1 seed from the SW Division and will start play on Wednesday at 2 p.m., taking on New Mexico State, the No. 4 seed from the West.
