Tucson, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats completed a three-game sweep of Sacramento State on Sunday at Hi Corbett Field. One night after scoring 23 runs on 24 hits, the Wildcats pounded out 11 hits and topped the Hornets 8-4.
Robby Medel, who entered the game in relief, earned his first win of the season. Bobby Dalbec, who went 1 for 2 with a walk at the plate, picked up the save by striking out the final two batters of the game.
The Wildcats struck first, scoring one in the first inning. Cody Ramer led off the game with a hot shot to shortstop that couldn't be corralled and trickled into left field for a double. Ramer then swiped third base and scored when catcher Gunner Pollman's throw sailed into left field.
Austin Schnabel, making his first start of the season, put a zero up in the second and got two outs in the third. With two on and two outs, Medel entered to get out of the mini-jam. The sophomore got Chris Lewis to line out to Dalbec at third to end the threat.
Medel pitched a scoreless fourth, before the Wildcats' offense went back to work. Freshman Cesar Salazar started the rally in the fourth with a one-out single. Louis Boyd and Justin Behnke then walked to load the bases with one out. Centerfielder Jared Oliva laid down a sacrifice bunt that went to the pitcher to score Salazar. Boyd, who was on second, never stopped running and was able to score on the bunt as the first baseman went to the bag to retire Oliva.
One batter later, Ramer tripled to score Behnke and give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
The Hornets got on the scoreboard in the fifth when they plated a pair of runs to cut the deficit to three. But Arizona answered right back in the sixth, scoring two more runs. Boyd opened the inning with a double and later scored on an error. Ramer laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Behnke for the second run.
Leading 6-1 heading to the seventh, the Cats saw the Hornets come right back. With a run already in, third baseman Kody Reynolds homered off of Kevin Ginkel to cut the lead to two at 6-4. But again, Arizona had an answer, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Behnke hit a sharp ground ball to short that got through for a two-run single to extend the lead back to four at 8-4.
Left-hander Cody Moffett and freshman righty Austin Rubick combined to throw a scoreless eighth. After the Wildcats went quietly in the bottom of the eighth, Rubick came back for the ninth. After retiring one batter, Rubick gave up back-to-back hits to put the tying run on deck. Dalbec then entered and struck out Reynolds and Blake Edmonson to end the game.
Dalbec now has four saves on the season and lowered his ERA for the year to 0.59. He has 18 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings. The junior also went 4 for 8 at the plate over the three games with three runs scored, three RBI and two walks.
Matijevic, the team's sophomore designated hitter/second baseman went 2 for 4 Sunday in the finale with a run scored. He went 7 for 12 on the weekend with four RBI and five runs scored.
Ramer finished the game 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Behnke also had two hits and two RBI and Oliva had a hit and a pair of RBI.
The Wildcats have now won six in a row at Hi Corbett and are 7-1 on their home field total this season. The Cats return to action Tuesday at home against New Mexico State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
