Wildcats, Javelinas clash in big series

ACU has three-game lead on defending champs heading into series

KINGSVILLE - Abilene Christian is back on the road this weekend for a crucial four-game Lone Star Conference South Division series against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the defending LSC champion.

The Wildcats and Javelinas will square off twice on Friday starting at 3 p.m., followed by a noon Saturday doubleheader.  All four games of the series can be heard on KSLI 1280 AM.

ACU enters the series as the hottest team in the LSC and one of the hottest in the nation, having won 21 of its last 23 games to improve to 35-12 overall and 10-2 in the LSC South.  ACU -- ranked No. 6 in the nation according to this week's Collegiate Baseball magazine poll -- took three of four games from Angelo State last weekend in Abilene to increase its lead in the division to three games over the No. 30 Javelinas, who are 30-16 overall and 7-5 in the LSC South.

The Wildcats can virtually wrap up the LSC South Division championship with a series win in Kingsville.  If ACU can take three of four from the Javelinas, ACU would be 13-3 and at least three games in front of its closest competition with only four games remaining in the season.  A series split also wouldn't be bad for the Wildcats, who would still leave Kingsville with their lead in the LSC South at two games at the very least, depending on what happens with Angelo State (6-6) and Eastern New Mexico (6-6).

With no LSC Post-Season Tournament this season (cancelled by conference presidents because it interfered with final exams), the Wildcats' next eight games are huge in relation to their push for a berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.  The first poll of the season won't be released until next week, but the push for a berth begins in earnest this week for the Wildcats, who missed the tournament last year after making the tournament four straight years and winning it in 2003.

The Wildcats have gotten the job done of late with their offense, which is among LSC leaders in batting average (.347), runs scored (417),doubles (133) and slugging percentage (.506).  Leftfielder Johnny Zepeda leads the Wildcats with a .447 batting average to go along with two home runs and 36 RBI.

Junior third baseman Ruben Rivera is hitting at a .435 clip to go along with 32 RBI, while senior centerfielder Cody Cure is hitting .373 with one home run and 42 RBI.  Senior shortstop Brenan Herrera has 42 RBI, and senior first baseman Ryan Barker has 38 RBI.  Junior designated hitter Joel Wells leads the team and is among LSC leaders with 46 RBI.

The Wildcats' top three starting pitchers -- Ben Brockman, Ben Maynard and Brandon Moore -- have been exceptional, combining for a 25-1 record with a 3.40 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 182 2/3 innings of work.  Since moving into the starting rotation on a regular basis  in mid-March, Moore has an ERA of 4.16.

Brockman's 10-0 mark leaves him one win away from tying the ACU record for most wins in a season: 11 set by Mark Ferry in 1996 and later tied by Grant Gregg in 2000 and Corey Tidwell in 2002.  Brockman, Brad Lightsey of Delta State, Sergio Romo of Mesa State and Jason Schutt of Central Missouri State are all 10-0 this season and lead NCAA Division II pitchers in wins.

Kingsville is also chasing a berth in the regional tournament, and its offense has been just as impressive as ACU's, carrying a .340 batting average into the weekend.  Steve Yaden leads the team with a .450 average to go along with one home run and 29 RBI.  Taylor Richards (.324 with 31 RBI) and Brook McClain (.314 with 19 RBI) lead the team with seven home runs apiece.

The Javelinas are led on the mound by Chris White, who is 6-4 with a 3.98 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings of work.  Raul Trevino is 5-1 with a 4.98 ERA, while Josh Livingston is 5-1 with a 5.34 ERA and Jeff Peters is 6-2 with a 6.28 ERA.