University of Arizona Athletics

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Powered by another strong freshman pitching performance the Arizona baseball team (15-11, 1-1 Pac-10) got back on the winning track with a 6-4 victory over 23rd-ranked UCLA Saturday afternoon. Arizona starter Sean Rierson (2-2) was impressive on the mound scattering seven Bruin hits over seven innings pitched while surrendering only two runs. He struck out five and walked only one.

Senior Ernie Durazo's school-record tying 28-game hitting streak came to an end as the first baseman went 0-for-5 on the afternoon. Durazo's best chance to extend the streak came in the fifth when he hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Bruin second baseman Josh Canales ranged to his right, fielded the ball cleanly but had trouble getting the ball from his glove to his throwing hand for an error.

The Canales error ignited a five run inning that would prove to be the difference in the game. The Cats would send 10 hitters to the plate in the inning and collect four hits. Ken Riley, Kyle Tasco, Brian Anderson and Brad Hassey all drove in runs in the fifth for the Cats.

The Bruins made things interesting in the eighth scoring two runs off Rierson and one apiece off relievers Brian Pemble and Daryl DeSalvo before Rob Elias came on to end the Bruin threat and close out the victory for Arizona. Elias' 1.1 innings of work earned him his second save of the season.

Outfielder Shelley Duncan broke out with a 3-for-4 performance. The right fielder drove in Arizona's first run in the first and scored in the fifth. Hassey was the only other Wildat to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.

The Wildcats and Bruins return to action on Sunday for the rubber game of the three game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. PST. The game can be heard live on KNST 790 AM.