March 19, 2011
Arizona 14, San Francisco 0 (Box Score)
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Kurt Heyer struck out 11 batters, and Steve Selsky went 3-for-5 with four RBI and his first home run of the season as the No. 11 Arizona baseball team shut out visiting San Francisco, 14-0, on Saturday in the opening game of a three-game series.
Arizona (14-5) posted a pair of runs in the first and second innings, respectively, to claim an early 4-0 lead. That was more than enough run support for Heyer and the pitching staff, which combined to toss UA's first shut out since the season opener against North Dakota State on Feb. 18.
Heyer improved to 3-1 on the season as he matched his season high with 11 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. The right-hander scattered seven hits and issued just one walk on the evening as he lowered his ERA to 1.12.
Selsky, making his home debut, drove in a pair of runs with a single in the second inning. Two frames later, the right fielder collected a third RBI with a run-scoring double, before highlighting the night with a solo home run in the seventh inning.
At the top of the order, Joey Rickard collected four hits and scored two runs, while Cole Frenzel registered three hits and three runs on the evening.
Robert Refsnyder tallied two hits, including a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Johnny Field also had two hits on the evening with a run and an RBI, while senior Josh Garcia delivered a pinch-hit two-run home run to cap the night's scoring in the eighth inning at 14-0.
Bryce Bandilla pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts in relief of Heyer. Nick Cunningham took over in the ninth to preserve the shutout and finished the game off with a strikeout.
San Francisco (9-9) threatened to cut into Arizona's 2-0 lead in the second. After two singles early in the inning, Heyer issued his only walk of the night with two outs, which loaded the bases. But the Wildcats escaped with an inning-ending ground ball and cruised the rest of the way.
The two clubs will be back in action on Sunday evening for the second game of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MST/PDT) at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.
