Breeze is an understatement, it was more like blew past Verbena. The powerful winds kept the flag at attention for most of the game. ACA handled the Red Devils easily on Saturday and felt they could do the same on their own field on Tuesday. A depleted Verbena pitching staff did not help their cause.
Starting pitcher, Alex Heilman set the tone for the game early on as he retired the side in the top of the first on just three pitches. A pitcher can’t be more efficient than that. Just to prove it was no fluke, he retired his fourth batter on his fourth pitch of the game in the second. In all, the sophomore needed only 18 pitches to work his way through three innings. The righty gave up just one hit and struck out two to earn the victory.
ACA took advantage of four Verbena errors in the first inning to put a six-spot on the board. The big hits of the frame were a two-run double by Mason Roosendaal and run scoring two-bagger by Ethan Dabney. Jackson Burton got things cooking in the second as he launched a two-run jack to left center for an 8-0 lead. Roosendall drove in another run with a single to center to make it 9-0. Mac Moorer, Jackson McGuire, and Burton (for the second time in the at-bat) each drove in a run to make it 13-0 after two.
Alabama Christian played base to base in the third with a commanding lead, but still managed to score six more times. Mac Moorer, Jackson McGuire, Teilan Long, Sam Schotteker, and Bryson Dabney each drove in a run in the inning. Levi Summers made his pitching debut in the fourth to close the game out.
Jackson Burton led the offense as he went 3 for 3 with a homer, three RBI’s, and two runs scored. Mason Roosendaal finished 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, three runs driven in, and three runs scored. Jackson McGuire and Mac Moorer both drove in two runs.