# 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball team

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.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 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 |
| Bold | Abilene Christian team member |
2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball game log :
Regular season (34-19) :
February (5-2) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | 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 | 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 1 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | 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 |

## 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
References: