BASEBALL: No. 17-ranked Arizona took the opening of a three-game series from Utah Valley, 6-5, on Friday night in Tucson, Ariz.
The Wolverines (3-5) got a three-hit day from sophomore Kai Hatch and used a three-run sixth to tie it in the final innings but fell short in the upset bid.
"We played a lot better today than we had in the past two weeks but we've still got some things to clean up," said head coach Eric Madsen. "We had some opportunities and didn't back down. In that sense I was pleased with the presence we had at the park tonight."
Utah Valley jumped on the board early when Willie Pratt led off the game with a triple and then came in to score on a Jason Zundel single.
Arizona (7-2) answered a run in the bottom of the first, two more in the second and one in the third to take a 4-1 lead.
The run in the first inning came with two outs on a double by Robert Refsnyder, ending Utah Valley starter Blake Krahenbuhl's scoreless streak to start the season at 132/3 innings.
UVU took advantage of some breaks to get back into the game. Austin Heaps singled to center but moved all the way to third when the ball skipped by the centerfielder. Then, with two outs, Hatch lined a single into right-center to give Utah Valley its second run.
The Wildcats got that run back in the bottom of the fourth when Refsnyder again delivered with two outs, singling to right to score Bryce Ortega.
The Wolverines tied it with three unearned runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, a throwing error by the pitcher trying to get the lead runner at the plate got away, allowing two runs to score. Hatch later came in to score the tying run on a passed ball with two outs in the inning.
Arizona scored what turned out to be the winning run in the seventh when Refsnyder continued his hot night with a double to right before scoring on a base hit by Josh Garcia.
Kurt Heyer struck out 10 in five innings but did not factor into the decision for Arizona. Konner Wade threw one inning and picked up the win while Bryce Bandilla struck out three in 12/3 innings to get the save. The Wildcat pitching staff combined to strike out 16 Wolverine hitters on Friday.
On Saturday, Utah Valley had the tying run at third with two outs in the eighth but fell short for the second straight game against 17th-ranked Arizona, 6-3.
With the Wolverines (3-6) trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning, Chris Benson collected his fourth base hit of the day and advanced to second when Willie Pratt went first-to-third. Pratt would come home on a wild pitch to make it 4-3 but Benson, the tying run, was stranded at third.
"We're playing better baseball but we've got to knock in runs when we have opportunities," said coach Madsen. "That's been the difference in these games. We have to get the big hits when we get the chance."
Arizona scored twice in the third to take an early lead when Jett Bandy doubled to left with two outs to drive in a pair of runs.
The Wolverines answered in the fourth to tie it. Benson singled to right and after Kirk Doxey sacrificed him over, Austin Heaps doubled to left to plate Benson. Goose Kallunki then lined a single into right-center to bring home Heaps and knot the score at 2-2.
The Wildcats scored twice more in the fifth to retake the lead for good. A sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice brought home the two runs after Arizona loaded the bases with nobody out.
After the Wolverines got the run in the eighth, Arizona plated two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning for the final 6-3 tally.
Kyle Simon (3-0) threw 71/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out six to pick up the win for the Wildcats. Nick Cunningham threw the final 12/3 innings to get the save. Justin Campbell (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs in 52/3 innings.
In addition to Benson's four hits, Heaps had two hits for the Wolverines. Bryce Ortega had three hits for the Wildcats while Bandy drove in three runs on the night.
The series finale is set for today at noon with senior righthander Kyle Beecher scheduled to take the mound against Tyler Hale.