Duarte's Walkoff HR Gives Wildcats 4-1 Win Over Kingsville

ABILENE - Junior Chuck Duarte's first home run as an Abilene Christian Wildcat served as the game-winning blast in ACU's 4-1 comeback victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday night at Crutcher Scott Field.

With two on, and no outs of a 1-1 game in the ninth, Duarte crushed an 0-1 pitch from reliever Adrian De La Garza (0-3) over the wall in left field, sending ACU (15-11, 3-2 LSC) to its second straight late-inning victory. The loss was Kingsville's third consecutive in conference, dropping its records to 13-6 and 2-3 (LSC).

Tonight's game began as a pitchers duel in which the Wildcats could do little to nothing against Javelina starter and Brian Wilson clone Jaden Dillon. The Javelina senior held ACU scoreless over 7.0 innings with four strikeouts, and allowed just six base runners via four singles and two walks.

The closest the Wildcats came to scoring off Dillon came in the sixth when they place a runner at third with two outs, only to leave him stranded on one of nine ground ball outs. Then in the seventh, ACU put two on with two outs, but Dillon escaped the jam by picking Duncan Blades off second base.

It appeared ACU wasn't going to have much better luck against the Kingsville bullpen as reliever Jeremy Flores opened the eighth with two quick outs, but No. 9 batter Travis Schuetze drew a walk and Tyler Eager was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch followed to place both runners in scoring position, and then with Kevin Finklea at the plate, Flores stumbled back off the mound and was called for a balk that tied the score at 1-1.

Flores went on to walk Finklea, which led to his ouster, and then De La Garza came in to strikeout Kyle Conwell and leave the go-ahead runs on base.

De La Garza was't as sharp in the ninth as he gave up a leadoff single to Rodge Macy, and then bobbled a sacrifice bunt attempt by Blades to set the stage for Duarte's walkoff home run.

Closer-turned-starter Josh Stone and reliever Clint Cooper (3-2) were the unsung heroes of tonight's game as the duo combined to surrender just one run on six hits with 11 Ks and no walks.

Stone was reached for a run in the second after Taylor Taska dropped a single to right to score Trent Wagner from second, but afterward struck out four, while leaving four more runners stranded on base. Stone also retired the side in order on three occasions, and left after tossing 97 pitches through 6.0 innings of work.

Cooper entered the game in the seventh with a runner at first, and after Dustin Aguilar reached on an error, he helped himself by initiating a 1-6-3 double play. He went on to pitch consecutive 1-2-3 eighth and ninth innings with four strikeouts.

The Wildcats and Javelinas resume their four-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader that will be broadcast by Grant Boone live via the ACU Sports page at YoeTV.org. Fans interested in watching the games from home should start by clicking on the Multimedia button located at the top of ACUSports.com.

Sunday's game has been rescheduled for a 1:35 p.m. start.

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Abilene Christian 4, A&M Kingsville 1 (Mar 23, 2012 at Abilene, TX)
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