April 6, 2004
Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz.- Facing former Wildcat great Chip Hale and his Tucson Sidewinders, the Arizona baseball team battled from start to finish but came up on the short end of an 8-5 decision in an exhibition game at Tucson Electric Park on Tuesday.
The game marked the first meeting between the Wildcats and the AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 1991. Hale, a UA letterwinner from 1984-87, is in his first season as the manager of the Sidewinders.
Despite the loss and a couple of costly errors on defense, the Wildcats provided enough offensive firepower to out-hit the Sidewinders 11 to 10 in the game and might have found a third starter for the regular season in John Meloan.
Leading 4-3 after four and half innings, the Sidewinders broke the game open with a four-run fifth. Paced by a two-run homer by Victor Hall, the only hit in the inning, and a throwing error by first baseman Jordan Brown, the five run advantage was too much for the Wildcats to overcome.
UA appeared to be game right from the start as a pair of UA freshmen staked the Wildcats to an early 1-0 lead in the first. Jason Donald led off the game with a double to right center and came around to score on Bill Rhinehart's single through the right side of the infield for the one-run advantage.
The Sidewinders countered with a run of their own in the home half of the frame when Luis Torrero singled, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by Nick Hundley on the stolen base attempt and scored on Julio Ramirez's single to center.
Tucson added two runs in the third and one in the fourth before pulling away in the fifth.
Offensively, Arizona had three players finish with a pair of hits in the game. Junior Jeff Van Houten went 2 for 5 with a double, a stolen base and a pair of RBI. Rhinehart finished 2 for 3 with a RBI and sophomore Trevor Crowe chipped in with a 2 for 2-night with a run scored.
The Sidewinders' Ramirez finished 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored and catcher Craig Ansman finished 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles, a RBI and a run scored.
On the mound, Meloan made a strong case for the No. 3 spot in the UA weekend rotation with a solid two innings of work. The sophomore right-hander did not give up a hit and struck out three of the six hitters he faced on the night.
Tucson's Brian Bruney picked up the win after striking out the Wildcats in order in the third. UA's Pat Lawler was charged with the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in three innings.
The Wildcats will return to the regular season their Pac-10 schedule this Thursday with a three-game series against UCLA on Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7 pm.
