2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball team

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball
2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball
Southland Conference Regular season champions
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	36–21 (25–13 Southland)
Head coach	Rick McCarty (3rd season);
Assistant coaches	Craig Parry; Blaze Lambert; Marc Mumper;
Home stadium	Crutcher Scott Field
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Southland Conference baseball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Abilene Christian ‍†‍‍	25	–	13	.658	36	–	21	.632
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi ‍‍‍	20	–	14	.588	25	–	29	.463
New Orleans ‍‍‍	23	–	17	.575	29	–	28	.509
Sam Houston State ‍‍‍	20	–	15	.571	30	–	25	.545
Southeastern Louisiana ‍‍‍	22	–	17	.564	32	–	24	.571
Northwestern State ‍‍‍	20	–	16	.556	27	–	26	.509
McNeese State ‍‍‡‍^y	21	–	18	.538	32	–	30	.516
Lamar ‍‍‍	17	–	19	.472	25	–	23	.521
Central Arkansas ‍‍‍	18	–	22	.450	23	–	28	.451
Stephen F. Austin ‍‍‍	17	–	22	.436	20	–	31	.392
Incarnate Word ‍‍‍	17	–	23	.425	21	–	28	.429
Nicholls ‍‍‍	16	–	24	.400	21	–	34	.382
Houston Baptist ‍‍‍	11	–	27	.289	14	–	38	.269

† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 6, 2021^[1] Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball team represented Abilene Christian University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wildcats played their home games at Crutcher Scott Field and were led by third–year head coach Rick McCarty. They were members of the Southland Conference. This was Abilene Christian's final year in the Southland as they will be moving to the Western Athletic Conference for the 2022 season.

Preseason[edit]

Southland Conference Coaches Poll[edit]

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 11, 2021 and the Wildcats were picked to finish tenth in the conference with 98 votes.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Coaches poll
1	Sam Houston State	276 (17)
2	Central Arkansas	247 (5)
3	McNeese State	244 (1)
4	Southeastern Louisiana	243 (3)
5	Northwestern State	193
6	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	146
7	Incarnate Word	144
8	Nicholls	108
9	New Orleans	101
10	Abilene Christian	98
11	Stephen F. Austin	92
12	Lamar	87
13	Houston Baptist	49

Roster[edit]

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball team

Players

Coaches

#	Pos.	Name	Bats/throws	Height	Weight	Year	Home town
0	RHP	Trevor Jackson	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Jr	Las Vegas, Nevada
1	INF	Sebastian Randle	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	153 lb (69 kg)	Fr	Rockwall, Texas
2	INF	Brett Hammit	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Fr	Nixa, Missouri
3	C	Mitchell Dickson	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	So	Flower Mound, Texas
4	INF	Cameron Cromer	L/R	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	Fr	Rowlett, Texas
5	OF	Joseph Craig	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Jr	Blanchard, Oklahoma
6	INF	Alexei Cazarin	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	Jr	Frisco, Texas
7	RHP	Genner Cervantes	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	Jr	Phoenix, Arizona
8	OF	Colton Eager	L/L	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	201 lb (91 kg)	Jr	North Richland Hills, Texas
9	INF	Hunter Gieser	R/R	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Jr	Burleson, Texas
10	INF	Bryson Hill	L/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	197 lb (89 kg)	So	Fort Worth, Texas
11	RHP	Tanner Riley	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Jr	Clyde, Texas
12	OF	Miller Ladusau	L/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Fr	Heath, Texas
14	RHP	Austin Glaze	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	217 lb (98 kg)	Fr	Carthage, Texas
15	LHP	Owen Cuffe	L/L	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Fr	Roseville, California
16	LHP	Adam Stephenson	L/L	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	So	Southlake, Texas
17	RHP	Austin Ruesch	R/R	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Jr	Edwardsville, Illinois
19	RHP	Zach Smith	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	Jr	Abilene, Texas
20	RHP	Spencer Chirpich	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	182 lb (83 kg)	Sr	Fairmont, Minnesota
21	RHP	Tyler Morgan	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	207 lb (94 kg)	Fr	Flower Mound, Texas
22	OF	Grayson Tatrow	L/R	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	So	Mansfield, Texas
23	INF	Tommy Cruz	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Jr	Guayama, Puerto Rico
24	OF	Mike Brown	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Sr	Pflugerville, Texas
26	RHP	Jack Junker	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	191 lb (87 kg)	So	Bandera, Texas
27	C	Harrison Caley	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Fr	The Woodlands, Texas
28	RHP	Cinoon Bak	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Fr	Seoul, South Korea
29	RHP	Carter Sells	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	So	Brentwood, Tennessee
30	C	Thomas Brannon	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	Fr	Angleton, Texas
32	INF	Cal Strandt	L/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	166 lb (75 kg)	Fr	Frisco, Texas
35	RHP	Cade Maclin	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Fr	Argyle, Texas
37	RHP	Ben Johnson	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	Fr	Southlake, Texas
38	C	Bryson Gillmore	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Fr	Cleburne, Texas
39	LHP	Connor Carlton	L/L	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	So	Abilene, Texas
40	INF	Jack Nielsen	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Fr	Southlake, Texas
43	LHP	Nick Norton	L/L	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	So	Tyler, Texas
44	INF	Eric Wimpee	L/L	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	207 lb (94 kg)	Sr	Rockwall, Texas
45	LHP	Max Huffling	L/L	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	260 lb (118 kg)	Fr	Edmond, Oklahoma

Head coach

Rick McCarty (Delta State)

Assistant coach(es)

Craig Parry (American Public)
Blaze Lambert (Palm Beach Atlantic)
Marc Mumper (Missouri)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2021 June 14

Schedule and results[edit]

Legend
	Abilene Christian win
	Abilene Christian loss
	Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold	Abilene Christian team member

2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball game log

Regular season (34-19)

February (5-2)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Feb. 20	Tarleton State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 16-3 (7 inns)	Chirpich (1-0)	Pinedo (0-1)	None		367	1-0
Feb. 20	Tarleton State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 7-2	Cervantes (1-0)	Gagnon (0-1)	None		367	2-0
Feb. 21	at Tarleton State		Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex • Stephenville, TX	L 4-10	Poe (1-0)	Stephenson (0-1)	None		322	2-1
Feb. 23	at Texas A&M		Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park • College Station, TX	W 6-5	Riley (1-0)	Menefee (0-1)	None	SECN+	1,287	3-1
Feb. 26	New Mexico State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 8-7	Riley (2-0)	Laukkanen (0-1)	None		239	4-1
Feb. 27	New Mexico State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 15-9	Huffing (1-0)	Rodriguez (0-1)	None		301	5-1
Feb. 28	New Mexico State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 2-12 (7 inns)	Jefferson (1-0)	Stephenson (0-2)	None		215	5-2

March (10-6)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Mar. 2	at UT Arlington		Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX	L 2-3 (12 inns)	Norris (1-1)	Sells (0-1)	None		314	5-3
Mar. 5	Arkansas State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 26-3	Chirpich (2-0)	Jarrard (0-1)	None		143	6-3
Mar. 6	Arkansas State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 6-5 (10 inns)	Riley (3-0)	Stone (0-1)	None		228	7-3
Mar. 7	Arkansas State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 9-4	Huffling (2-0)	Anderson (0-1)	None		238	8-3
Mar. 12	at Central Arkansas		Bear Stadium • Conway, AR	W 9-8 (11 inns)	Riley (4-0)	Cleveland (0-2)	None		265	9-3	1-0
Mar. 13	at Central Arkansas		Bear Stadium • Conway, AR	W 5-4	Cervantes (2-0)	Johnston (1-2)	Huffing (1)		274	10-3	2-0
Mar. 13	at Central Arkansas		Bear Stadium • Conway, AR	L 3-6	Janak (2-0)	Stephenson (0-3)	Cleveland (3)		232	10-4	2-1
Mar. 14	at Central Arkansas		Bear Stadium • Conway, AR	L 8-9	Gilbertson (1-0)	Morgan (0-1)	Cleveland (4)		284	10-5	2-2
Mar. 19	Nicholls		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 6-7	Balado (2-0)	Chirpich (2-1)	Taylor (5)		196	10-6	2-3
Mar. 20	Nicholls		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 4-1	Cervantes (3-0)	Kilcrease (0-2)	None		200	11-6	3-3
Mar. 20	Nicholls		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 6-5	Riley (5-0)	Evans (0-1)	None		200	12-6	4-3
Mar. 21	Nicholls		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 4-7	Heckman (1-1)	Jackson (0-1)	None		221	12-7	4-4
Mar. 26	at New Orleans		Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA	W 9-6	Huffling (3-0)	Turpin (3-1)	Riley (1)		316	13-7	5-4
Mar. 27	at New Orleans		Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA	W 19-10	Cervantes (4-0)	Barthelemy (1-2)	None		286	14-7	6-4
Mar. 27	at New Orleans		Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA	L 4-8	Seroski (4-1)	Glaze (0-1)	None		286	14-8	6-5
Mar. 28	at New Orleans		Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA	W 16-12	Chirpich (3-1)	LeBlanc (0-1)	None		207	15-8	7-5

April (8-9)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Apr. 1	Northwestern State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 2-8 (12 inns)	Brown (1-1)	Riley (5-1)	None		231	15-9	7-6
Apr. 2	Northwestern State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 11-0	Cervantes (5-0)	Carver (3-2)	None		242	16-9	8-6
Apr. 2	Northwestern State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 3-5	David (2-2)	Stephenson (0-4)	None		286	16-10	8-7
Apr. 3	Northwestern State		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 5-6 (10 inns)	Taylor (1-0)	Carlton (0-1)	None		298	16-11	8-8
Apr. 9	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	W 13-9	Carlton (1-1)	Flettrich (0-1)	Riley (2)	ESPN+	765	17-11	9-8
Apr. 10	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	L 3-8	Shaffer (2-2)	Cervantes (5-1)	Dugas (1)	ESPN+	800	17-12	9-9
Apr. 10	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	W 8-4	Jackson (1-1)	Hughes (1-3)	Riley (3)	ESPN+	825	18-12	10-9
Apr. 11	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	L 0-7	Stuprich (3-1)	Chirpich (3-2)	None	ESPN+	832	18-13	10-10
Apr. 13	UT Arlington		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 11-10	Huffling (4-0)	Winquest (0-4)	Riley (4)		204	19-13
Apr. 16	at No. 3 Texas		UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX	L 0-18	Madden (5-1)	Morgan (0-2)	None	LHN	1,737	19-14
Apr. 17	at No. 3 Texas		UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX	L 1-3	Stevens (6-1)	Huffling (4-1)	Witt (2)	LHN	1,959	19-15
Apr. 18	at No. 3 Texas		UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX	L 1-11 (7 inns)	Kubichek (5-2)	Chirpich (3-3)	None	LHN	1,826	19-16
Apr. 23	Incarnate Word		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 1-12 (7 inns)	Cassidy (1-1)	Morgan (0-3)	None		238	19-17	10-11
Apr. 24	Incarnate Word		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 10-7	Huffling (5-1)	Garza (3-3)	None		481	20-17	11-11
Apr. 24	Incarnate Word		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 8-3	Glaze (1-1)	Westall (0-1)	None		411	21-17	12-11
Apr. 25	Incarnate Word		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 8-4	Chirpich (4-3)	Zavala (4-3)	None		616	22-17	13-11
Apr. 30	at Houston Baptist		Husky Field • Houston, TX	W 5-2	Stephenson (1-4)	Burch (2-3)	Riley (5)		200	23-17	14-11

May (11–2)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
May 1	at Houston Baptist		Husky Field • Houston, TX	Game cancelled
May 1	at Houston Baptist		Husky Field • Houston, TX	Game cancelled
May 2	at Houston Baptist		Husky Field • Houston, TX	W 8-6	Chirpich (5-3)	Reitmeyer (2-2)	Riley (6)		200	24-17	15-11
May 7	Lamar		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 3-2	Riley (6-1)	Olivarez (0-3)	None		285	25-17	16-11
May 8	Lamar		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 8-4	Cervantes (6-1)	Johnson (1-3)	None		391	26-17	17-11
May 8	Lamar		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 10-5	Glaze (2-1)	Dallas (0-2)	None		401	27-17	18-11
May 9	Lamar		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 7-5	Huffling (6-1)	Ekness (1-3)	Riley (7)		388	28-17	19-11
May 14	at Sam Houston State		Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX	W 10-1	Morgan (1-3)	Davis (5-4)	None		462	29-17	20-11
May 15	at Sam Houston State		Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX	W 12-6	Huffling (7-1)	Lusk (1-3)	None		462	30-17	21-11
May 15	at Sam Houston State		Don Sanders Stadium • Hunstville, TX	L 4-5 (10 inns)	Havlicek (2-1)	Riley (6-2)	None		462	30-18	21-12
May 16	at Sam Houston State		Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX	W 5-3	Chirpich (6-3)	Backhus (4-1)	Carlton (1)		372	31-18	22-12
May 20	Stephen F. Austin		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 13-3 (7 inns)	Morgan (2-3)	Stobart (0-6)	None		491	32-18	23-12
May 21	Stephen F. Austin		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 7-3	Cervantes (7-1)	Todd (3-3)	Carlton (2)		502	33-18	24-12
May 21	Stephen F. Austin		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	W 6-4	Glaze (3-1)	Gennari (3-5)	Riley (8)		502	34-18	25-12
May 22	Stephen F. Austin		Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX	L 3-9	Cuellar (2-1)	Chirpich (6-4)	None		563	34-19	25-13

Post-season (2–2)

SLC Tournament (2–2)
Date	Opponent	Seed/Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	Tournament record
May 26	vs. (8) Lamar	(1)	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	W 7-1	Morgan (3-3)	Michael (6-3)	None	ESPN+	847	35-19	1-0
May 27	vs. (4) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	(1)	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	W 4-3	Glaze (4-1)	Perez (2-4)	Riley (9)	ESPN+	976	36-19	2-0
May 28	vs. (5) Sam Houston State	(1)	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	L 12-14	Dillard (2-4)	Cervantes (7-2)	Lusk (8)	ESPN+	968	36-20	2-1
May 29	vs. (5) Sam Houston State	(1)	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	L 13-15	Beard (1-2)	Chirpich (6-5)	Lusk (9)	ESPN+	817	36-21	2-2

Schedule Source:^[3]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Postseason[edit]

Conference accolades[edit]

Player of the Year: Colton Cowser – SHSU
Hitter of the Year: Colton Eager – ACU
Pitcher of the Year: Will Dion – MCNS
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Cleveland – UCA
Freshman of the Year: Brennan Stuprich – SELA
Newcomer of the Year: Grayson Tatrow – ACU
Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Rick McCarty – ACU

All Conference First Team

Chase Kemp (LAMR)
Nate Fisbeck (MCNS)
Itchy Burts (TAMUCC)
Bash Randle (ACU)
Mitchell Dickson (ACU)
Lee Thomas (UIW)
Colton Cowser (SHSU)
Colton Eager (ACU)
Clayton Rasbeary (MCNS)
Will Dion (MCNS)
Brennan Stuprich (SELA)
Will Warren (SELA)
Tyler Cleveland (UCA)
Anthony Quirion (LAMR)

All Conference Second Team

Preston Faulkner (SELA)
Daunte Stuart (NSU)
Kasten Furr (UNO)
Evan Keller (SELA)
Skylar Black (SFA)
Tre Obregon III (MCNS)
Jack Rogers (SHSU)
Pearce Howard (UNO)
Grayson Tatrow (ACU)
Chris Turpin (UNO)
John Gaddis (TAMUCC)
Trevin Michael (LAMR)
Caleb Seroski (UNO)
Jacob Burke (SELA)

All Conference Third Team

Luke Marbach (TAMUCC)
Salo Iza (UNO)
Austin Cain (NICH)
Darren Willis (UNO)
Ryan Snell (LAMR)
Tommy Cruz (ACU)
Tyler Finke (SELA)
Payton Harden (MCNS)
Mike Williams (TAMUCC)
Cal Carver (NSU)
Levi David (NSU)
Dominic Robinson (SHSU)
Jack Dallas (LAMR)
Brett Hammit (ACU)

All Conference Defensive Team

Luke Marbach (TAMUCC)
Nate Fisebeck (MCNS)
Anthony Quirion (LAMR)
Darren Willis (UNO)
Gaby Cruz (SELA)
Julian Gonzales (MCNS)
Colton Cowser (SHSU)
Avery George (LAMR)
Will Dion (MCNS)

References:^[4]

References[edit]

^ "2021 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
^ "Sam Houston Repeats as Southland Baseball Preseason Favorite". www.southland.org. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
^ "Southland adjusts baseball slate, new 2021 schedule released". Abilene Christian University Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
^ "SFA's Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year". www.southland.org. Retrieved January 6, 2022.

[1] "2021 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved June 4, 2021.

[2] "Sam Houston Repeats as Southland Baseball Preseason Favorite". www.southland.org. Retrieved April 9, 2021.

[3] "Southland adjusts baseball slate, new 2021 schedule released". Abilene Christian University Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2021.

[4] "SFA's Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year". www.southland.org. Retrieved January 6, 2022.

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