TUCSON, Arizona - The University of Arizona scored a season-high 14 runs on a season best 14 hits, as they run-ruled Fresno State 14-4 to secure a series sweep of the Bulldogs.
The Wildcats (6-9) had six different players tally at least one hit, including five separate players who collected two or more hits in the game.
Luc Fladda earned the victory on the mound, improving to 2-0 this season, while Victor Arreola took the loss for Fresno State (7-7).
Offensively, Arizona had its best performance of the season, posting 14 hits, including three home runs, two doubles, and one triple.
Individually, the duo of Tony Lira and Nate Novitske led the way for the Wildcats. Lira was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with one walk and he scored three runs in the contest. Novitske was also superb, as he went 3-5 with a home run, three runs scored, and one RBI.
Maddox Mihalakis closed out an outstanding weekend with a 2-5 performance and three RBI, marking his third straight multi-hit game. Andrew Cain went 2-4 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI, while Carson McEntire was 2-4 with a triple and a game-high four RBI. Jackson Forbes also had a notable performance, going 1-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Fladda had another strong outing on the mound, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out six. Maclain Roberts had a stellar outing in relief, pitching the final two innings and allowing no runs on two hits, while posting two strikeouts.
Fresno State struck first, scoring a run in the first on a balk. Arizona responded quickly, as Lira and Cain posted back-to-back doubles, with Lira scoring on the second one to tie the game. Mihalakis then singled through the right side of the infield to give the Wildcats their first lead of the day.
Fresno State tied the game in the third, but Arizona responded immediately, as Novitske opened the bottom of the third with a single to center field. Lira and Cain then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Mihalakis hit into a double-play, but Novitske scored on the play. The bases were loaded again after Caleb Danzeisen drew a walk and Beau Sylvester was hit by a pitch. Forbes stepped up to the plate and delivered in tremendous fashion, singling through the right side of the infield to plate two runs and extend Arizona's lead to 5-2. McEntire then tripled to right-center field, scoring two more runs.
Fresno State got one run back in the top of the fourth to trim into the Wildcats lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, Novitske and Lira commenced the inning with back-to-back singles. After a flyout, Mihalakis singled to right field and Novitske scored on the play, as Arizona pushed their lead back up to five runs.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Fresno State added a run in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half of the inning, Novitske once again led off, this time launching his first career home run well over the right-field wall. Lira then singled to bring Cain up to the plate. Cain turned on a pitch and hit a two-run shot to right field, as Arizona pushed its lead up to 11-4.
Both teams went scoreless in the seventh, and Roberts retired three of four batters in the top of the eighth. Arizona opened the bottom half of the eighth inning with a single courtesy of Lira. After back-to-back outs, Danzeisen, Sylvester, and Forbes drew three straight walks, allowing Lira to score. McEntire was up next and walked it off with a single up the middle to score two runs, as Arizona earned the 14-4 victory in eight innings.
Arizona returns to action Tuesday night, travelling to Tempe to face Arizona State at 6:35 p.m.
