Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah plated four runs in the eighth inning to come from behind for the third consecutive game and down the Arizona Wildcats 4-2 at Smith's Ballpark.
The loss dropped Arizona to 17-11 on the season and 3-6 in Pac-12 play.
Arizona dominated the first seven innings of the game behind starting pitcher Cody Deason, who was making his first career start for the Wildcats as a freshman. Deason, who had made 10 relief appearances entering Sunday's series finale, was sterling in his first career start. The right-hander didn't give up a hit until two outs in the third inning. One batter later, he got a ground ball to get out of the inning.
He didn't give up another hit until the eight, but the Utes were able to pile on after that. Max Schuman led off the inning with a single to left field. He was lifted for pinch-runner Chandler Anderson, who scored one batter later when Cody Scaggari doubled to left to make it 2-1. Cole Taylor then reached on a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no outs.
Kody Davis then singled up the middle to plate Scaggari and tie the game at two. Cameron Ming came on to replace Deason. He got the first out of the inning on a sacrifice bunt, but then gave up a two-run double to DaShawn Keirsey. The Cats got out of the inning without allowing any more runs, but the damage was done.
Deason, who faced just one over the minimum over the first seven innings and allowed just one hit, took the hard-luck loss. His final line read seven innings, four runs – all earned – on five hits.
Third baseman Bobby Dalbec led the Wildcats offensively Sunday. Dalbec missed Saturday's game with the flu, but returned with authority Sunday. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI. He roped a double to center field with two outs in the third to score the first run of the game and give Arizona a 1-0 lead.
The Cats added on to their lead in the fourth when catcher Ryan Haug singled to left to score Jared Oliva and make it 2-0. That remained the score until Utah struck for four in the eighth.
Oliva and Cody Ramer each finished with two-hit games in the loss. Ramer scored a run and upped his season average to .362. Oliva also scored a run and stole his eighth base of the season to tie for the Pac-12 lead. Kyle Lewis, making the first start of his Arizona career, went 1 for 4 with a walk out of the leadoff spot.
Utah's Trenton Stoltz pitched a scoreless eighth to earn his first win of the season for the Utes (10-14, 7-2). Dylan Drachler earned his fifth save of the season.
Arizona will finish off its four-game road trip Monday with an afternoon contest at BYU. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Michael Rucker will start for the Cougars. Arizona has yet to announce its starting pitcher.
