SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes used a three-run six inning to come from behind and top the Arizona Wildcats 5-4 in the series opener Friday night at Smith's Ballpark.
Arizona jumped out to a 4-0 lead through three innings, but the Utes scored two in the fourth and three more in the sixth to erase the deficit and hold off the Wildcats over the final three innings. Arizona dropped to 23-16 on the season and 6-10 in Pac-12 play. Utah improved to 11-28 and 5-11 in the league.
The Cats started fast and got out to an early lead when they plated three runs in their half of the second inning. The big inning started when freshman
Donta Williams came up with two outs and nobody out and lined a single to right to put a man on for fellow freshman
Jacob Blas.
Blas was hit by a pitch to put two on. Sophomore right fielder
Matt Fraizer then attacked a 1-0 pitch and tripled down the right field line to score Williams and Blas and make it 2-0. Alfonso Rivas made it 3-0 one batter later when he singled through the left side to plate Fraizer. Rivas extended his hitting streak to 11 games with the single and has now reached base safely in 21 straight games.
The Cats extended their lead an inning later in the third.
Cameron Cannon led off the inning with a double, and then was brought home when
Cesar Salazar singled for the second time in the game to bring home Cannon and make it 4-0.
But Utah got to starter
Cody Deason starting in the fourth. Leadoff man DaShawn Keirsey Jr., started the inning with a triple and was able to score on the play off a throwing error by the Wildcats to make it 4-1. Oliver Dunn then walked and stole second. He scored two batters later when Erick Migueles singled him home to make it 4-2.
After Deason tossed a scoreless fifth, Utah went back to work in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out. Migueles then walked to bring home Keirsey and make it 4-3. The Cats didn't stay in the lead for long as Chandler Anderson singled home two more to give Utah its first lead of the game at 5-4, which would hold up to be the final.
Rivas, Cannon, Salazar and Williams all had two-hit games in the loss. Rivas finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Williams was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk. Salazar was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Cannon was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
The Wildcats and Utes will continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 12 p.m., Tucson time. Right-hander
Michael Flynn will start for Arizona. Utah has yet to announce a starter.
