http://gopurpleaces.com/article.asp?articleid=78856 EVANSVILLE, Ind.--Scott Souther’s amazing story got even better on Wednesday. After going from pitching one inning at the University of Evansville as a junior to posting one of the finest seasons on the mound in UE history as a senior, Souther signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Souther signed with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday after a short one-game stint with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. Souther will now report to the Diamondbacks’ single-A affiliate in Yakima, Washington to take part in a shortened season with the Yakima Bears. He is the 36th UE player to join a professional baseball team since the mid-1980s, including being the 15th UE player to go pro in the last seven years. “This is definitely satisfying, going from throwing one inning last year to earning all-conference honors and helping the team to the NCAA Tournament this season to now getting a chance to live out a dream and play pro ball,” said Souther. “I’m just going to go out and give 110 percent and see what happens. “I was definitely surprised when I got the call, because when I signed with the Otters, I thought it would be for the long haul. I thought that maybe I would get a chance to sign with someone in late July or early August if I did well. But, to be able to get the call so early and be able to play in the Minor Leagues right now is a dream come true.” Souther pitched just one inning out of the UE bullpen during the 2005 season as a junior, but quickly developed into a key part of the UE pitching staff this past season. Working as both a reliever and a starter, Souther earned first team all-Missouri Valley Conference honors after posting a 7-1 record with three saves and a 2.10 earned run average in 20 appearances (six starts) spanning 55.2 innings of work. He recorded 48 strikeouts against only 20 walks on the season, and held opposing teams to just a .194 batting average. His 2.10 ERA ranks as the third-lowest single-season ERA in UE history behind only former first round Major League Baseball draft picks Steve Obenchain (1.38 ERA in 2002) and Andy Benes (1.42 ERA in 1988). “This is a great opportunity for Scott, and I am really excited for him to get this chance,” said UE head coach Dave Schrage. “Scott has worked extremely hard to earn this chance at playing professionally, and I hope that his best baseball is ahead of him. He definitely deserves this opportunity after all of the hard work he put in this past season.” Souther earned one of the biggest victories in UE baseball history in his final start as a Purple Ace, as he struck out a career-high eight men in seven innings of work in UE’s 15-4 victory over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament’s Charlottesville Regional. Souther held the seventh-ranked Cavaliers to just three runs on seven base hits while walking two. He did not give up more than three runs in an outing during the course of the 2006 season. In his lone appearance with the Evansville Otters, Souther gave up just three runs (two earned) on four base hits in five innings of work against the River City Rascals in an outing which spanned two days due to rain. Souther posted a career 8-1 record and 3.90 ERA in 41 career appearances at UE. He is a native of Eaton, Colorado and was an all-state pick in football, basketball, and baseball at Eaton High School. --

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