From Arizona Athletics:
Despite seven dominating innings from sophomore Randy Labaut, the Arizona Wildcats dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 4 Arkansas on Wednesdaynight at Tony Gwynn Stadium on the campus of San Diego State.
Labaut, making the first start of the season, established new career highs for innings and strikeouts in his outing. The left-hander from Downey, California, went seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out seven and not issuing any walks. But a solo home run was the difference in the game that served a precursor to the Tony Gwynn Legacy that the Wildcats will participate in this weekend.
Labaut struck out five straight batters over the second and third innings, getting all five on swinging strikeouts. The five punch outs established a new career high for the sophomore left-hander, whose previous best was four against USC and Oregon last season.
Labaut threw a first pitch strike to eight of the first nine batters he faced, and tossed three perfect innings to begin his outing.
After a scoreless fourth, Arkansas finally got to Labaut in the fifth inning. After retiring the first batter on a ground out, freshman Heston Kjerstad hit a solo home run to left-centerfield for the first run of the game to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. Labaut settled down to escape the inning without any further damage.
Arizona threatened an inning earlier in the fourth inning when Cal Stevenson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With one out, Alfonso Rivas roped a single to right field. Stevenson easily got to third, but was caught in a rundown after an aggressive turn at third. A groundout then ended the brief threat.
The Cats threatened again in the seventh inning with a two-out rally. Nick Quintana started it with a base hit to right-center, and Cesar Salazar followed with a walk to put two on with two outs. Cameron Cannon then drew a walk to load the bases for the Wildcats. The Cats went to pinch-hitter Seve Romo, who grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning and the threat.
The Razorbacks looked to extend their lead in the eighth inning with catcher Grant Koch led off the inning with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jared Gates, and an intentional walk to Carson Shaddy put two men on with one out. The Wildcats lifted right-hander Juan Aguilera in favor of freshman lefty Gil Luna. Luna struck out lefties Hunter Wilson and Jax Biggers to end the inning and keep it at a one-run game.
The Wildcats couldn’t muster anything in the eighth or ninth. Arizona has yet to allow more than one run in a game through its first four contests of the season.
Arizona returns to action Friday night in the opening game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy versus San Diego State.
Despite seven dominating innings from sophomore Randy Labaut, the Arizona Wildcats dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 4 Arkansas on Wednesdaynight at Tony Gwynn Stadium on the campus of San Diego State.
Labaut, making the first start of the season, established new career highs for innings and strikeouts in his outing. The left-hander from Downey, California, went seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out seven and not issuing any walks. But a solo home run was the difference in the game that served a precursor to the Tony Gwynn Legacy that the Wildcats will participate in this weekend.
Labaut struck out five straight batters over the second and third innings, getting all five on swinging strikeouts. The five punch outs established a new career high for the sophomore left-hander, whose previous best was four against USC and Oregon last season.
Labaut threw a first pitch strike to eight of the first nine batters he faced, and tossed three perfect innings to begin his outing.
After a scoreless fourth, Arkansas finally got to Labaut in the fifth inning. After retiring the first batter on a ground out, freshman Heston Kjerstad hit a solo home run to left-centerfield for the first run of the game to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. Labaut settled down to escape the inning without any further damage.
Arizona threatened an inning earlier in the fourth inning when Cal Stevenson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With one out, Alfonso Rivas roped a single to right field. Stevenson easily got to third, but was caught in a rundown after an aggressive turn at third. A groundout then ended the brief threat.
The Cats threatened again in the seventh inning with a two-out rally. Nick Quintana started it with a base hit to right-center, and Cesar Salazar followed with a walk to put two on with two outs. Cameron Cannon then drew a walk to load the bases for the Wildcats. The Cats went to pinch-hitter Seve Romo, who grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning and the threat.
The Razorbacks looked to extend their lead in the eighth inning with catcher Grant Koch led off the inning with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jared Gates, and an intentional walk to Carson Shaddy put two men on with one out. The Wildcats lifted right-hander Juan Aguilera in favor of freshman lefty Gil Luna. Luna struck out lefties Hunter Wilson and Jax Biggers to end the inning and keep it at a one-run game.
The Wildcats couldn’t muster anything in the eighth or ninth. Arizona has yet to allow more than one run in a game through its first four contests of the season.
Arizona returns to action Friday night in the opening game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy versus San Diego State.
