March 8, 2011
Arizona 12, UNLV 1 (Box Score)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The No. 14 Arizona baseball team erupted for five first-inning runs and then cruised behind a strong mid-week start on the mound by Vincent Littleman to defeat host UNLV, 12-1, on Tuesday night at Wilson Field.
Littleman, making his first start of the season, tossed 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on one hit. Littleman retired the first eight hitters he faced in order. He struck out two and walked two in his first victory of the year.
The efficient mid-week pitching performance was coupled with an offensive explosion that saw the Wildcats score 12 runs on 16 hits in the ballgame. With five first-inning runs in tote, Arizona tacked on single runs in the second, fifth and sixth inning, before putting the game out of reach with four in the top of the ninth.
Four Wildcats finished with multiple hits in the game, led by Cole Frenzel's 4-for-6 line and Mejia's 3-for-5 effort that tallied three RBI. Las Vegas native Johnny Field scored three runs in his fist collegiate game in his hometown.
Arizona (10-2) plated five runs on four hits and an error in the first inning as Josh Garcia and Seth Mejias-Brean collected RBI, and Mejia drove in two runs with a double.
In the second, Las Vegas native Joey Rickard crushed a home run to left field to give the Wildcats a 6-0 advantage. Rickard finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the game.
For UNLV (11-3), starter Scott Dysinger was charged with the loss after yielding the six runs - five earned - on seven hits over 4.0 innings.
The Wildcats tacked on two runs against reliever Max Jarvate. Field reached with a one-out double, and Bobby Rinard, who made his first start at catcher, added an RBI single. An inning later, Frenzel drove in Bryce Ortega, who scored after tallying one of his three hits on the night.
Offensively, Arizona closed the game much like it opened it: with a big inning. The Wildcats scratched across four runs on five hits in the top of the ninth. Jett Bandy, who was given a partial day of rest behind the plate, collected an RBI, as did Mejia and Frenzel. A fourth run scored on a wild pitch.
Arizona's bullpen was strong over the final four innings, turning in a scoreless effort on three hits allowed with five strikeouts. Jacob Doyle tossed in 2.2 innings in relief of Littleman out of the bullpen with three strikeouts, while Matt Chaffee (0.1 IP) and Bryce Bandilla (1.0 IP) closed out the contest.
The two-game series will conclude on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PST) at Wilson Stadium.
