The Texas Rangers ensured Abilene Christian University’s 700 fans would go home happy tonight when Ian Desmond’s two-run homer in the eighth inning helped beat the rival Houston Astros 4-3 and cap another successful Wildcat alumni event in Arlington.
Women’s head basketball coach Julie Goodenough – recently announced winner of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ NCAA Division I Women’s College Coach of the Year – took the mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Globe Life Park. Her ACU team won the Southland Conference regular season championship for 2015-16 and played in the Postseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Previous Wildcats to share that honor in recent years are Dr. Phil Schubert (’91), Olympic gold medalist Earl Young (’62), former ACU star and MLB pitcher Bill Gilbreth (’69) and director of athletics Lee De Leon.
Fans gobbled up all of the university’s ticket allotment, donning ACU purple and Rangers’ blue and red to watch the game from the upper deck All You Can Eat Porch in right field.
The next ACU baseball gathering is scheduled for June 21 at Houston’s Minute Maid Park to watch the Astros host the Los Angeles Angels at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include a $15 food credit.
Purchase tickets on the Alumni Association website.