UTB-TSC: Gidora's win gives Scorpions split of doubleheader
Danny Gidora recorded his fifth complete-game shutout of the season to lead the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College to a 5-0 victory over Louisiana State University-Shreveport in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Scorpion Field.
LSUS (36-11, 24-2 RRAC) won the nightcap 7-1. The Scorpions and Pilots play the final game of a three-game series at 1 p.m. Saturday at Scorpion Field.
With the first-game victory, UTB-TSC (31-18, 18-8 RRAC) tied its school record for most victories in one season with 31. The 2010 Scorpions finished the year 31-24.
The Pilots came into the game as the No. 5 team in the NAIA. They are ranked in numerous NAIA statistical categories for batting. They are ranked No. 1 in doubles and No. 2 in runs scored, RBI and home runs. They had been shut out only once this year, by NCAA Division I Louisiana Tech.
Game 1: UTB-TSC 5, LSUS 0: Gidora faced his biggest challenge of the season against a power-laden Pilots squad.
A northerly wind helped keep two deep fly outs in the park, but Gidora was sharp the rest of the way. He struck out five, walked two, and allowed only three hits. He threw 109 pitches to improve his record to 9-2, setting a Scorpions NAIA record for most victories in one season.
He allowed only two baserunners in the same inning only once and has put up RRAC pitcher of the year-type numbers. His ERA is now 1.23, a mark that is among the top 15 in the nation.
The Scorpions got two runs in the first, one in the fourth and two in the sixth, and they collected 10 hits.
Matt Warner went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs, while Felix Fanaselle was 1 for 4 and also drove in two runs. Jorge Camorlinga and Nick Loftis also had two hits each for the Scorpions.
Game 2: LSUS 7, UTB-TSC 1: UTB-TSC hung tough with the Pilots for most of the way. A two-run homer by Michael Diffee was the first for LSUS on Friday in the ninth, stretching a 4-1 lead to 6-1. The Pilots added another run after the home run in the ninth.
LSUS scored twice in both the second and sixth innings.
Julian Moya (2-5) went the first three innings for the Scorpions and took the loss, allowing two earned runs and five hits. Zach Armstrong went the final six innings, allowing three earned runs and four hits.
UTB-TSC managed only five hits in the game. Fanaselle doubled home Joel Fernandez for the only Scorpions run in the first inning.
