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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Army pitcher Alex Robinett strikes out 21 in 8-0 win over Air Force

Army's Alex Robinett struck out 21 in a nine-inning, three-hit, 8-0 win over Air Force on Friday. (Associated Press)

Army’s Alex Robinett was not keeping track of his prodigious number of strikeouts, and his teammates were not telling him because they know to give him his space when he is pitching.

“I thought I was hovering around 14,” Robinett said Monday. “When they announced 21, I was totally surprised.”

Those 21 Ks against Air Force on Friday were the most in Division I baseball since Stephen Strasburg, now with the Washington Nationals, fanned 23 for San Diego State against Utah in 2008. Robinett walked none in a three-hit, 8-0 victory that came two months after he pitched a no-hitter against Longwood.

“I’ve been in that type of groove for a few innings in a row but I wouldn’t say a full, complete nine,” Robinett said. “As the game went on you could tell their hitters were getting a little frustrated, more off-balance. I really hit the zone.”

Robinett had at least two strikeouts in each inning, struck out the side three times and ended the game with five straight Ks.

The 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander was the star on a team that finished this season 21-26 and last in the Patriot League. He was 6-5 with a 2.01 ERA, a nation-leading eight complete games and 92 strikeouts against 16 walks in 80 2/3 innings.

Robinett was born in Saudi Arabia – his parents worked for an oil company – and he pitched in two Little League World Series before he moved to Bend, Oregon, when he was 14. Pac-12 schools tried to recruit him, but his father advised him to take the opportunity offered by Army. He’ll graduate May 19 with a degree in business management.

Robinett, whose fastball touches the low 90s, expects to be drafted next month. He could play rookie ball before he begins his five years of Army service.

Making it to the big leagues is difficult for players from the service academies. Only one West Point graduate, Walt French in the 1920s, is known to have made it.

The Naval Academy two weeks ago had its first major-league call-up when pitcher Mitch Harris joined the St. Louis Cardinals.