June 5, 2011
Arizona 6, Seton Hall 0 (Box Score) | NCAA Tournament Bracket
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Arizona baseball team stayed alive at the College Station Regional as freshman Konner Wade matched his career high with seven innings pitched in the Wildcats' 6-0 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon.
The victory advances Arizona (38-20) to the first regional championship game against host Texas A&M (44-18) this evening at 6:35 p.m. CDT (4:35 p.m. in Tucson). The Wildcats must win the game to force another championship game on Monday evening. Otherwise, an Aggies' win would clinch the regional title. Seton Hall (36-19) was eliminated with today's loss.
Wade, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., finished with 7.0 shutout innings pitched as he improved his record to 3-0. The right-hander scattered three hits, walked three and struck out two as he lowered his ERA to 3.21. The seven innings matched his longest career outing.
Arizona, the designated visiting team, claimed an early 1-0 lead. Joey Rickard led off the game with a double to left center and moved to second on Bryce Ortega's sacrifice bunt. Cole Frenzel drove in the game's first run with a groundout.
The Wildcats added another run in the top of the second. Johnny Field was hit by a pitch and stole second base to open the inning. Bobby Rinard then reached on a bunt single that advanced Field to third base. Jacob Meskin picked up the RBI on a groundout to shortstop.
In the fifth inning, the Wildcats loaded the bases after Mejias-Brean and Rickard singled, and Ortega walked. The two lead runners scored on a two-run single to left field by Frenzel and Mejias-Brean was knocked in on a RBI groundout by Robert Refsnyder.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Meskin drew a walk and was able to reach third base following an errant pickoff throw to first base. Alex Mejia followed with a two-out RBI single to left center to push the lead to 6-0.
Wade pitched into the eighth inning, but was lifted after issuing his third walk of the game to lead off the frame. Bryce Bandilla took over and walked the first batter he faced, before picking up two easy outs. However, a third walk in the inning loaded the bases, but Bandilla induced a groundball to strand three base runners and kept the shut out in tact.
In the ninth, Bandilla gave up a two-out base hit, but otherwise kept Seton Hall off the scoreboard to preserve Arizona's second straight shut out.
This evening the Wildcats are set to throw sophomore Tyler Hale (3-4, 5.03) against the Aggies. Texas A&M has announced Derrick Hadley (0-0, 4.11) as its starter. Arizona has been designated as the home team.
Tonight's game will be broadcast on 1290 AM in Tucson with Brian Jeffries describing the action. A free audio stream will also be available through www.arizonawildcats.com, while live video will be available on www.aggieathletics.com.
