March 26, 2004
Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz.- A game-saving catch by sophomore outfielder Derek Decater in the top of eighth helped the Wildcat baseball team outlast Washington State 8-7 in its Pac-10 season opener on Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium on Friday.
The victory snapped a season-high-tying three-game losing streak for the Wildcats (12-10-1, 1-0 Pac-10), while WSU fell to 14-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference with the loss.
Clinging to the one-run lead in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and two out, Decater made a diving snag on Jeremy Farrar's sinking live drive to center to end the inning and stave off a potential huge inning for the Cougars.
WSU loaded the bases in the frame on a one-out walk to Jay Miller by reliever Scott Burns, a two-out pinch-hit single by Zach Franklin off of lefty Chris Frey and a free pass issued to pinch hitter Justin Hart by closer Derek Rodriguez before Decater saved the day with his catch.
The fine play, along with eight runs on 14 hits, made a winner out of UA starter Koley Kolberg (3-2). The junior right-hander gave up four runs on eight his in six innings of work for his third win. He struck out a season-high nine WSU batters, including the first four outs made in the game, and walked four.
Rodriguez, the beneficiary of Decater's defensive gem, picked up his team leading fourth save of the year in 1 1/3 innings of relief. WSU's Aaron MacKenzie (3-2) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs on 11 hits in five innings. He struck out seven a walked just one.
After scoring just four runs in three games last weekend at Long Beach State, the Wildcat offense roared back to life against the Cougars. Highlighted by a two-run homer by freshman Bill Rhinehart in the fifth, Arizona scored seven runs in the middle three innings to jump out to an 8-4 lead.
The Cougars battled back with three in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout of Justin McClure by Burns with the tying run on second ended the threat.
Rhinehart led all batters at the plate with a 3 for 5, two-RBI and two-run night. Sophomore Jordan Brown added a pair of RBI and two runs with a triple and a double in three at bats.
Arizona and Washington State will meet up again on Saturday for the second game of the three-game set. The athletic department will host O'Rielly Motors Fan Appreciation Day, which includes a raffle for Arizona merchandise, as well as a $500 cash giveaway. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm MST.
