From Arizona Athletics
SAN DIEGO – A big eighth inning helped Arizona (4-3) capture their fourth win of the season over the San Diego State Aztecs (1-7) by a score of 7-3 to finish off the inaugural Tony Gwynn Classic. Rio Gomez (1-0) was credited with his first win of the season.
Arizona got off to a good start in the first inning. Since the Wildcats were the designated home team, starter JC Cloney began the game with a perfect 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Cody Ramer continued his hot streak as he roped a triple to right field on the first pitch he saw. Louis Boyd, the hero in game two, then brought him home on a sacrifice fly to left field.
After two innings of zeros on the scoreboard for both teams, San Diego State tied the game after a single and a fielder’s choice with an error had runners on first and second with two outs. Dean Navarez singled to right field and scored Tyler Adkinson from second base. The run would be unearned.
San Diego State took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Alan Trejo singled and Justin Wylie was hit by a pitch, but Boyd made a nice double play to get two outs. However, Trejo advanced to third and then Spencer Thorton was able to drive him home on a line drive that went over the head of Boyd, giving the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.
Arizona threatened in the top of the sixth after Aguilar reached second base on an error by the left fielder. He advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Gibbons, but groundballs to first and third by Alfonso Rivas III and Bobby Dalbec ended the inning without scoring a run.
It was a strange top of the seventh after what looked like a foul ball on a bunt attempt, the runner at first base advanced to second after it was ruled that the ball in fact did not hit the bat. He would then advance to third on another wild pitch and then head coach Jay Johnson would bring in Kevin Ginkel to pitch with a 2-2 count. He struck out the batter on one pitch and then struck out the second batter as well. The inning came to an end after he was able to get the third out on a line drive to right field.
The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Justin Behnke pinch hit for Ryan Haug and drew a walk. Cesar Salazar pinch hit for Jared Oliva and drove in Behnke on a ball to the right field wall. Salazar was thrown out trying to stretch it out into a triple. Ramer came up next and doubled down the left field line, but he would be stranded there.
The Aztecs threatened again in the top of the eighth after a double and an intentional walk had runners at first and second with one out. Rio Gomez came on to relieve Ginkel and he was able to get out of the inning with no damage done. Boyd made the play of the day to get the third out as he backhanded a ball and threw across his body and across the diamond.
Arizona scored five runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Aguilar singled and advanced to second on an errant throw and would advance to third on a pass ball. Gibbons would walk and the Rivas drove in Aguilar on a single to right field. Dalbec then roped a double to left field, scoring both Gibbons and Rivas. Behnke would then drive home Dalbec on his second-career triple. Salazar followed that up with a single to right field that brought home Behnke.
The Aztecs scored a run off of Gomez in the top of the ninth, but not enough as Arizona walked away victoriously by a score of 7-3.
The Wildcats are back in action on Tuesday as they head to Scottsdale to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in an exhibition game.
Game Notes
Zach Gibbons, Cody Ramer and Ryan Aguilar all reached base today. All three of them have reached base in every single game this season.
JC Cloney made the start today after starting on Friday against Tulane.
JJ Matijevic extended his hitting streak to five games after going 1-3 today.
At the conclusion of the game, Rivas was named to the Tony Gwynn Classic All-Tournament Team. Rivas finished the Tony Gwynn Classic hitting 9-15 with seven RBI after going 1-4 today.
Arizona scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. That is the most that Arizona has scored in one inning this season.
SAN DIEGO – A big eighth inning helped Arizona (4-3) capture their fourth win of the season over the San Diego State Aztecs (1-7) by a score of 7-3 to finish off the inaugural Tony Gwynn Classic. Rio Gomez (1-0) was credited with his first win of the season.
Arizona got off to a good start in the first inning. Since the Wildcats were the designated home team, starter JC Cloney began the game with a perfect 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Cody Ramer continued his hot streak as he roped a triple to right field on the first pitch he saw. Louis Boyd, the hero in game two, then brought him home on a sacrifice fly to left field.
After two innings of zeros on the scoreboard for both teams, San Diego State tied the game after a single and a fielder’s choice with an error had runners on first and second with two outs. Dean Navarez singled to right field and scored Tyler Adkinson from second base. The run would be unearned.
San Diego State took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Alan Trejo singled and Justin Wylie was hit by a pitch, but Boyd made a nice double play to get two outs. However, Trejo advanced to third and then Spencer Thorton was able to drive him home on a line drive that went over the head of Boyd, giving the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.
Arizona threatened in the top of the sixth after Aguilar reached second base on an error by the left fielder. He advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Gibbons, but groundballs to first and third by Alfonso Rivas III and Bobby Dalbec ended the inning without scoring a run.
It was a strange top of the seventh after what looked like a foul ball on a bunt attempt, the runner at first base advanced to second after it was ruled that the ball in fact did not hit the bat. He would then advance to third on another wild pitch and then head coach Jay Johnson would bring in Kevin Ginkel to pitch with a 2-2 count. He struck out the batter on one pitch and then struck out the second batter as well. The inning came to an end after he was able to get the third out on a line drive to right field.
The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Justin Behnke pinch hit for Ryan Haug and drew a walk. Cesar Salazar pinch hit for Jared Oliva and drove in Behnke on a ball to the right field wall. Salazar was thrown out trying to stretch it out into a triple. Ramer came up next and doubled down the left field line, but he would be stranded there.
The Aztecs threatened again in the top of the eighth after a double and an intentional walk had runners at first and second with one out. Rio Gomez came on to relieve Ginkel and he was able to get out of the inning with no damage done. Boyd made the play of the day to get the third out as he backhanded a ball and threw across his body and across the diamond.
Arizona scored five runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Aguilar singled and advanced to second on an errant throw and would advance to third on a pass ball. Gibbons would walk and the Rivas drove in Aguilar on a single to right field. Dalbec then roped a double to left field, scoring both Gibbons and Rivas. Behnke would then drive home Dalbec on his second-career triple. Salazar followed that up with a single to right field that brought home Behnke.
The Aztecs scored a run off of Gomez in the top of the ninth, but not enough as Arizona walked away victoriously by a score of 7-3.
The Wildcats are back in action on Tuesday as they head to Scottsdale to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in an exhibition game.
Game Notes
Zach Gibbons, Cody Ramer and Ryan Aguilar all reached base today. All three of them have reached base in every single game this season.
JC Cloney made the start today after starting on Friday against Tulane.
JJ Matijevic extended his hitting streak to five games after going 1-3 today.
At the conclusion of the game, Rivas was named to the Tony Gwynn Classic All-Tournament Team. Rivas finished the Tony Gwynn Classic hitting 9-15 with seven RBI after going 1-4 today.
Arizona scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. That is the most that Arizona has scored in one inning this season.
