ABILENE - Ten walks issued by five Texas-Permian Basin pitchers led to seven Wildcat runs, and the Abilene Christian baseball team earned a quick, 11-1 (7), victory over the Falcons on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field.
Lone Star Conference Co-Player of the Week
Chuck Duarte ended the game with one out in the seventh after slicing a bases-clearing double down the left-field line. Duarte finished the game 2 for 3 with four RBI.
The victory lifted ACU's record to 23-19, while the Falcons fell to 11-28.
The Wildcats trailed early in the first when left fielder Ryne Head scored on a two-out RBI single, but starter
Austin Palmer settled down afterward and gave up just two more hits over the next 3.0 innings while striking out five.
Josh Stone (5-4) relieved Palmer to start the fifth and delivered 2.0 scoreless frames with two Ks, and then
Emmett Niland came in to pitch the seventh, leaving a runner stranded at third base.
The Wildcats took the lead for good in the third as they scored six times off Falcon relievers Cory Blackmon (0-1) and Casey Rana, each of who exhibited some control issues.
After
Luke Mejia grounded out to begin the inning, the next three Wildcats all singled and then Duarte gave the home team a 2-1 lead with a fly ball to center. Blackmon couldn't get the final out as he walked the next two hitters in loading the bases, and Rana wasn't much help either as he immediately surrendered a two-run single by
Reed Watson.
Rana walked the next three batters, which pushed the ACU lead to 6-1, before finally getting
Kyle Conwell on a fly ball to left.
Tyler Eager singled to lead off the fourth and made it a 7-1 game after scoring on one of three Jeff Fisher-Gasper wild pitches, and in the sixth,
Duncan Blades singled home
Rodge Macy from third.
Mejia started the seventh with a single to center off reliever Josh Wise, who then issued back-to-back walks with one out before giving up the game-ending hit to Duarte.
The Wildcats return to action Friday night when they play host to Tarleton State at 7 p.m.
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Abilene Christian 11, UTPB 1 (Apr 17, 2012 at Abilene, Texas)
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UTPB................ 100 000 0 - 1 5 0 (11-28)
Abilene Christian... 006 101 3 - 11 10 0 (23-19)
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Pitchers: UTPB - Kyle Cormier; Corey Blackmon(3); Casey Rana(3); Jeff Fisher-Gasper(4);
Josh Wise(7) and Scott Hastings; Brian Brademan. Abilene Christian - Austin Palmer;
Josh Stone(5); Emmett Niland(7) and Rodge Macy.
Win-Josh Stone(5-4) Loss-Corey Blackmon(0-1) T-2:20 A-231
Weather: 72, Sunny
