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ABILENE - Former Abilene High School Eagle Derek Scott tossed an absolute gem of a ball game in his very first collegiate start, striking out 11 Falcons through 7.0 scoreless innings in ACU's 3-2 victory over UT Permian Basin Monday night at Crutcher Scott Field.
Scott's focus all night was hitting the strike zone and that was evident as he began the game with 14 consecutive strikes, and the first time through the Falcons' lineup he had 24 strikes on just 30 pitches. He additionally struck out four consecutive batters between the first and second innings, and punched out the side in the third frame. Scott then recorded three fly ball outs on five pitches in the fourth, and left a runner stranded at second base in the fifth with a swinging strikeout of Alex Fernandez.
Scott whiffed two more matters in the sixth, and in his final inning of work he left two aboard when Fernandez lined out to Anthony Dominguez in right field. All told, Scott only threw 88 pitches and lowered his season ERA to 2.76.
The game got a bit more interesting after Scott's exit from the mound, although he did stay in the game in center field to replace starter Dalon Farkas. Reliever Jonah Smith pitched the eighth and allowed a run on two hits with pinch runner Dalton Drury scoring on first baseman Alexander Wixson's two-out RBI single up the middle. Drury stole second base after leadoff man Doug Clapperton was rung up for batter's interference and later advanced on a wild pitch.
Smith escaped the eighth with a strikeout of Daniel Andrade, however, there would be more dramatics in the ninth with Zach Kornely on the bump. Kornely retired the first two hitters he faced as Mitchell Hazlett lined out to Scott in center and William Bierlein struck out looking, but then Randal Toribio hit a hot shot to second base and Fernandez followed with a bloop single to right field.
Jordan Zazulak cut the Wildcats' lead to 3-2 with a single to left, scoring Toribio, and even though the throw got past Russell Crippen at third base, Kornely was there to back up the play to make sure no one else advanced. He then got Clapperton to end the game on the first pitch with an infield pop up to second baseman Aaron Draper.
Kornely's save was his first of the season.
The Wildcats scored all their runs in the first two innings vs. starter Kameron Mathis. After Scott drew a walk, Crippen drilled his sixth home run of the year over the wall in right field to make it a 2-0 game, and Draper followed with a one-out solo shot in the second inning. Draper's round-tripper was his first of the spring.
ACU put a few more runners on base, drawing three walks to go along with seven hits, but couldn't capitalize on any additional opportunities as three Falcon relievers combined for 6.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts.
The Wildcats continue their five-game homestand Friday at 6 p.m. vs. their Southland Conference rivals from Lamar.
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ABILENE - Former Abilene High School Eagle Derek Scott tossed an absolute gem of a ball game in his very first collegiate start, striking out 11 Falcons through 7.0 scoreless innings in ACU's 3-2 victory over UT Permian Basin Monday night at Crutcher Scott Field.
Scott's focus all night was hitting the strike zone and that was evident as he began the game with 14 consecutive strikes, and the first time through the Falcons' lineup he had 24 strikes on just 30 pitches. He additionally struck out four consecutive batters between the first and second innings, and punched out the side in the third frame. Scott then recorded three fly ball outs on five pitches in the fourth, and left a runner stranded at second base in the fifth with a swinging strikeout of Alex Fernandez.
Scott whiffed two more matters in the sixth, and in his final inning of work he left two aboard when Fernandez lined out to Anthony Dominguez in right field. All told, Scott only threw 88 pitches and lowered his season ERA to 2.76.
The game got a bit more interesting after Scott's exit from the mound, although he did stay in the game in center field to replace starter Dalon Farkas. Reliever Jonah Smith pitched the eighth and allowed a run on two hits with pinch runner Dalton Drury scoring on first baseman Alexander Wixson's two-out RBI single up the middle. Drury stole second base after leadoff man Doug Clapperton was rung up for batter's interference and later advanced on a wild pitch.
Smith escaped the eighth with a strikeout of Daniel Andrade, however, there would be more dramatics in the ninth with Zach Kornely on the bump. Kornely retired the first two hitters he faced as Mitchell Hazlett lined out to Scott in center and William Bierlein struck out looking, but then Randal Toribio hit a hot shot to second base and Fernandez followed with a bloop single to right field.
Jordan Zazulak cut the Wildcats' lead to 3-2 with a single to left, scoring Toribio, and even though the throw got past Russell Crippen at third base, Kornely was there to back up the play to make sure no one else advanced. He then got Clapperton to end the game on the first pitch with an infield pop up to second baseman Aaron Draper.
Kornely's save was his first of the season.
The Wildcats scored all their runs in the first two innings vs. starter Kameron Mathis. After Scott drew a walk, Crippen drilled his sixth home run of the year over the wall in right field to make it a 2-0 game, and Draper followed with a one-out solo shot in the second inning. Draper's round-tripper was his first of the spring.
ACU put a few more runners on base, drawing three walks to go along with seven hits, but couldn't capitalize on any additional opportunities as three Falcon relievers combined for 6.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts.
The Wildcats continue their five-game homestand Friday at 6 p.m. vs. their Southland Conference rivals from Lamar.
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