2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball team explained

Mode:baseball
Year:2021
Team:Abilene Christian Wildcats
Conference:Southland Conference
Short Conf:Southland
Record:36–21
Conf Record:25–13
Head Coach:Rick McCarty
Hc Year:3rd
Asst Coach1:Craig Parry
Asst Coach2:Blaze Lambert
Asst Coach3:Marc Mumper
Stadium:Crutcher Scott Field
Champion:Southland Conference Regular season champions

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

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

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.[1]

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

Schedule and results

Legend
 Abilene Christian win
 Abilene Christian loss
 Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
BoldAbilene Christian team member
2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball game log
Regular season (34-19)
February (5-2)
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveTVAttendanceOverall recordSLC Record
Feb. 20 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 L 4-10 Poe (1-0) Stephenson (0-1) None 322 2-1
Feb. 23 at W 6-5 Riley (1-0) Menefee (0-1) None 1,287 3-1
Feb. 26 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)
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveTVAttendanceOverall recordSLC Record
Mar. 2 L 2-3 (12 inns) Norris (1-1) Sells (0-1) None 314 5-3
Mar. 5 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 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 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 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)
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveTVAttendanceOverall recordSLC Record
Apr. 1 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 W 13-9 Carlton (1-1) Flettrich (0-1) Riley (2) 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) 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) 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 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 L 0-18 Madden (5-1) Morgan (0-2) None 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) 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 1,826 19-16
Apr. 23 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 W 5-2 Stephenson (1-4) Burch (2-3) Riley (5) 200 23-17 14-11
May (11–2)
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveTVAttendanceOverall recordSLC 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 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 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 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)
(2–2)
DateOpponentSeed/RankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveTVAttendanceOverall recordTournament 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 847 35-19 1-0
May 27 (1) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 4-3 Glaze (4-1) Perez (2-4) Riley (9) 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) 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) 817 36-21 2-2

Schedule Source:[2] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.|}

Postseason

Conference accolades

  • 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:[3]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sam Houston Repeats as Southland Baseball Preseason Favorite . www.southland.org . 9 April 2021 . en.
  2. Web site: Southland adjusts baseball slate, new 2021 schedule released . Abilene Christian University Athletics . 24 May 2021 . en.
  3. Web site: SFA’s Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year . www.southland.org . 6 January 2022 . en.