Offense Shows Up for ACC But Jacks Still Swept

Tanner, AL | February 19, 2026

The ACC Lumberjacks baseball team wrapped up another day of action Thursday evening in Tanner, Alabama, taking on Lincoln Trail College and the host Calhoun Warhawks in a doubleheader to close out the Alabama road trip. The results didn't go the Lumberjacks' way — a 12–9 loss to Lincoln Trail and an 8–5 defeat to Calhoun — but individual performances continued to stand out as ACC battles through a demanding early-season schedule away from home.

The Lumberjacks came out swinging against Lincoln Trail's Statesmen and made a game of it all the way to the final out, finishing with 12 hits and nine runs in a contest that showcased the offensive firepower this team has shown throughout the trip.

Third baseman Miguel Salcedo was the story of the game, finishing 3-for-4 with six RBI and the biggest hit of the day — a three-run home run in the sixth inning that briefly pulled the Lumberjacks within three. Salcedo had already driven in two runs in the third with a line-drive single that plated both Maxwell McCarty and Aiden Bishop, and he added another RBI knock in the fifth. It was a standout individual performance on a long road trip.

McCarty was equally impressive at the top of the order. The center fielder went 3-for-4 with a double, scored three times, and stole two bases — doing as much damage on the bases as he did at the plate. He set the table effectively all game long, reaching base four times.

After Lincoln Trail jumped out to a 10–2 lead through four innings, the Lumberjacks refused to fold. They erupted for four runs in the fifth — keyed by Nate Gould and McCarty reaching to set things up, then Salcedo delivering again and catcher AJ Wheelock following with a two-RBI single — before Salcedo's home run made it a 12–9 game in the sixth. ACC had the tying run at the plate in the seventh with McCarty on second, but Lincoln Trail's pitching held on.

Shortstop Bishop contributed two hits and an RBI, while first baseman Marcus Castellon doubled twice and played solid defense at first. The Lumberjacks also showed some aggression on the bases, swiping three bags as a team.

In the nightcap against the host Warhawks, the Lumberjacks continued to show competitive at-bats and were right there in the middle innings before pitching struggles allowed Calhoun to pull away.

Maxwell McCarty had another standout moment, cracking a go-ahead triple to center field in the fifth inning that scored both Isaac Zocco and Ryley White, giving ACC its only lead of the game at 5–4. It was an electric swing that had the Lumberjacks in front of the home team heading into the back half.

Miguel Salcedo continued his impressive day, driving in two more runs in Game 2 and again demonstrating the kind of clutch bat that ACC will lean on throughout the year. He finished the doubleheader with 8 RBI combined — a remarkable output from the heart of the order.

Aiden Bishop was productive throughout both games, adding a double in the finale and making plays defensively at shortstop. Isaac Zocco chipped in a key RBI double in the second inning of Game 2, and Marcus Castellon worked a walk and doubled in the sixth, keeping rallies alive.

Right-hander Jacob Brohl started Game 2 and competed through 4⅔ innings. While Calhoun's lineup — aided by a hit-batsman-heavy approach — put up runs, Brohl kept the Lumberjacks close into the fifth and showed the ability to generate ground balls and limit damage in key moments.

A strong sixth-inning spot appearance by Dylan Klein helped keep things in check after Brohl's exit, and the Lumberjacks threatened in the final innings before running out of outs.

Through a challenging Alabama road trip, a pair of names have consistently stood out: Miguel Salcedo and Maxwell McCarty. Salcedo compiled 8 RBI in Thursday's doubleheader alone, including a home run and multiple clutch hits when the game was within reach. McCarty scored four times on the day, reached base repeatedly, and contributed a triple and a double while showing off his speed on the bases — a consistent bright spot throughout the trip.

ACC finishes off the week-long road trip today, Feb. 20, again facing Lincoln Trail and Calhoun with a 9:00 a.m. start time.