March 14, 2003

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz.- The No.21 Arizona baseball team cruised to its second straight and fifth overall shutout of the season in a 20-0 win over Wagner at Frank Sancet Field on Friday night. The victory improved Arizona's record 16-7, while Wagner remained winless at 0-9.

The Wildcats recorded 17 hits in the game, including a school record tying five triples and an inside the park home run, while three pitchers combined to give up just two hits over the course of nine innings. All total, 11 of the 14 Arizona batters that had at least one at-bat recorded a hit.

Sophomore Jeff Van Houten led all Arizona players with a 3 for 3 night at the plate, including Arizona's first inside the park home run in over 10 years. The outfielder laced Wagner reliever Matt Herzberg's 2-2 pitch down the right field line in the fifth inning, rounded the bases and crossed home plate standing up. Former Wildcat Jason Thompson was the last Arizona player to circle the bases with the ball still in play on Feb. 1, 1993 against New Mexico.

On the mound, junior Joe Little carried a no-hitter through the first 4 2/3 innings before giving up an infield single to Wagner's Troy Sogluizzo. Sophomore John Hardy made an outstanding play just to knock the sharply hit ball down, but could not make the throw to preserve the no-no for the Arizona lefty.

Little (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season with six innings of one-hit ball. He struck out nine and walked two before giving way to relievers Chris Goodman and Scott Burns, who combined to strike out five more Seahawk batters to help tie a team season-high 14 strikeouts in a game.

The Wildcats and Seahawks will close out the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on 790 AM KNST.