Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz.- The Arizona baseball team’s bid to rally from a 6-2 deficit to the ninth-ranked USC Trojans came up short as the Cats fell 8-7 in 10 innings at Sancet Field Sunday afternoon. The loss, which completed USC’s three game sweep over the Cats, drops UA to 19-15 for the season and 2-4 in the Pac-10.
The Trojans struck early and often in the first three innings scoring three in the first, one in the second and two in the third off of Arizona starter Chris Goodman and reliever Joe Little. The Wildcats countered with single runs in the first and the third to make it a 6-2 contest.
Arizona would nibble away at the four run lead starting in the sixth. Brian Anderson’s RBI single to score Matt Abram would start a three inning rally that brought the Cats back to an eventual 7-7 tie.
Junior Brad Hassey, the main catalyst on offense for the Cats all afternoon, played a huge part in the pair of runs scored by Arizona in the seventh and eighth innings. The shortstop led off the seventh with double and scored on Ernie Durazo’s RBI ground out to bring the Cats within two at 6-4. Erik Torres would inch the Cats closer when he crossed the plate on Matt Abram’s RBI line out to center.
The Trojans added another run in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-5 when Josh Persell smashed reliever David Brockman’s offering over the left field wall for a solo home run.
Brian Anderson led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and advanced to second on Ken Riley’s sac bunt. After Justyn St. Clair walked, the pair completed a double steal of second and third. The hot hitting Hassey, who finished the game 4-for-6, then lined a triple down the right field line to plate Anderson and St. Clair and tie the score at seven apiece.
The Trojans would steal the game in the 10th on Seth Davidson’s RBI single to score pinch runner Josh Self from third. Senior Rob Elias (0-3) suffered his third loss of the season for Cats.
Other Wildcats with multiple hits in the game were Abram, Anderson and Riley.
Arizona continues its Pac-10 slate with a trio of games against Oregon State next weekend at Sancet Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday.
