Feb. 19, 2011
Arizona 12, North Dakota State 1 (Box Score)
TUCSON, Ariz. - Josh Garcia hit two home runs, Cole Frenzel collected five RBI and Kyle Simon struck out a career-high 13 as the No. 19 Arizona baseball team routed visiting North Dakota State for the second day in a row at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
One day after seeing no home runs hit in the season opener, a total of four - three by Wildcats - were belted on a blustery day in Tucson. All four were hit over the left field fence, perhaps aided by gusty winds that reached in the 30 miles per hours range throughout the game.
The Wildcats claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the pitching staff saw its scoreless innings streak snapped at 12 consecutive frames when Nick Colwell hit the first wind-aided home run to tie the game in the fourth inning. Garcia then broke the tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, and the Wildcats regained the lead for good.
Arizona (2-0) scratched across two more runs over the next three consecutive innings, then put the game out of reach with four runs in the eighth to set the score at its final, 12-1.
That was more than enough offense for Simon, who was an eight-game winner a season ago. The 6-foot-5 righty struck out a career-high 13 over 7.2 innings. He allowed just one hit and did not issue a walk.
Simon seemed to use Colwell's fourth-inning homer as motivation. The junior hurler retired the next 14 batters he faced in the game before giving way to junior left-hander Matt Chaffee, who sealed the game for the second consecutive game.
The Wildcats rapped out three extra base hits in the bottom of the fifth inning, including triples by Alex Mejia and Frenzel. For the sophomore Frenzel, it was the first of five RBI on the day, and Arizona enjoyed a 4-1 lead.
After two more runs scored in the home half of the sixth thanks to a two-run shot by freshman Johnny Field, Frenzel drove home two more with a single to centerfield to extend the lead to 8-1.
Garcia and Frenzel helped cap the scoring again in the eighth. Garcia roped another solo home run before Frenzel hit another two-run single to set the game at its final, 12-1.
Simon and Chaffee combined to allow just two hits in the game. For the Bison (0-2), Mark Hermes was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in 4.2 innings.
The Wildcats and Bison will complete the three game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon (MST) at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
