TUCSON, Ariz. - Owen Kramkowski recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts across six scoreless innings, and the Wildcats scored six runs on 12 hits to secure a 6-0 shutout victory Friday night to open the three-game series against Fresno State.
Arizona (4-9) was nearly flawless in all facets, turning in one of its most complete performances of the season in a dominant victory over Fresno State (7-5). The Wildcats offense matched a season-high with 12 hits and the pitching staff had their second-highest strikeout total of the season with 14.
Kramkowski had a career outing for Arizona, tossing six innings and allowing no runs on just five hits and zero walks, in addition to setting a new career-high with 12 strikeouts. Corey Kling and Benton Hickman contributed to the shutout, with Kling throwing two innings and allowing just two hits, while Hickman pitched the final inning and retired three of the four batters that he faced.
Offensively, redshirt freshmen Nate Novitske and Tony Lira led the way for the Cats. Novitske continued what has been a superb stretch of play by going 3-4 with a walk to reach base four times, while scoring two runs in the game. Lira went 2-4 at the plate with a walk, and he blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field.
Maddox Mihalakis had two hits, two RBI and a run scored, while Jackson Forbes went 2-4 with an RBI. Making his return to the lineup after a four-game absence, Tyler Bickers went 1-4 with a walk and scored two runs.
After Fresno State opened the game with a leadoff triple, Kramkowski struck out back-to-back batters before getting a flyout to end the half inning with no runs allowed on the board.
Arizona's offense got hot right off the bat, as Bickers and Novitske drew back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the first. With the first two runners on base, Lira stepped up and crushed a hanging breaking ball that soared over the wall in left field to give Arizona a 3-0 lead.
Mihalakis followed by singling through the right side of the infield, and after a flyout, Beau Sylvester singles through the left side of the infield, allowing Mihalakis to reach third. Forbes then hit a hard ground ball to first base for a fielder's choice; however, Mihalakis scored on the play to make it a 4-0 advantage.
Kramkowski continued to cruise, scattering two hits over the next three frames.
The Wildcats increased their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a groundout to start, Bickers and Novitske recorded back-to-back singles, before Lira drew a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change, Mihalakis hit a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Bickers to extend the lead to 5-0.
Kramkowski retired six of the next eight batters he faced, striking out four Bulldogs to push his total up to 12 for the game. He struck out the final batter he faced in the top of the sixth, marking the end of a sensational outing for the junior.
Arizona added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Novitske posted his second hit of the day by singling up the middle. After a groundout that advanced Novitske to second base, Mihalakis laced a ball down the left field line and Novitske scored to push Arizona's lead up to 6-0.
Kling and Hickman closed out Fresno State down the stretch and kept the shutout intact, as Arizona went on to take the victory in impressive fashion.
The Wildcats will return to the field for the second game of the series against Fresno State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
