From Arizona Athletics
The Arizona Wildcats won their fifth straight game Tuesday night, topping in-state foe Arizona State 6-2 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Wildcats have also now won five straight at Phoenix Municipal, dating back to 2016. The win improved Arizona to 10-6 on the season and dropped Arizona State to 8-9.
Preston Price, who tossed 2 1/3 stellar innings in relief, earned the first win of his career. Tylor Megill pitched two hitless innings to earn his fourth save of the season. Nick Quintana, Travis Moniot and Matt Fraizer all had two-hit games in the win.
The Wildcats struck first Tuesday, plating a pair of runs in the second inning. Quintana started the rally with a line drive single to center. He moved up a base on a groundout from Tate Soderstrom to put a runner into scoring position for Cameron Cannon.
Cannon, the sophomore second baseman, came through with an RBI single to right to plate Quintana, who slid in head first to beat the throw from right fielder Trevor Hauver. On the next pitch, dFraizer chopped a single up the middle to score Cannon and make it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
The Sun Devils got one run back in the fourth inning when Alika Williams singled with two outs off starter Avery Weems to score designated hitter Taylor Lane. Weems got the next batter to ground out to end the inning and keep it a one-run lead.
The Wildcats then got him some more run support in the fifth, breaking through for three runs. Like the two runs in the second, Arizona’s rally came with two outs. Cal Stevenson dropped down a bunt single with one out and Ryan Haug was then hit by a pitch to move Stevenson to second and put two men on. Alfonso Rivas reached on a fielder’s choice, but Haug was thrown out at second to put runners on first and third. Quintana followed with a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Soderstrom.
Arizona State went to the bullpen before Soderstrom’s at-bat to bring in righty Fitz Stadler. Soderstrom battled to a full count and eventually drew a walk to score Stevenson and make it 3-1. Cannon then hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Gage Workman, who committed a throwing error, allowing Quintana and Rivas to score and make it 5-1.
The Sun Devils responded in the bottom half of the inning when freshman Spencer Torkelson hit a solo home run off Weems to make it 5-2. A walk and a single then put two runners on with two outs for Lane. The Wildcats went to the bullpen and brought in righty Preston Price to face him. Price did his job, getting Lane to strike out to end the threat.
Arizona stretched the lead back to four runs in the sixth. Stevenson walked with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Haug. The Sun Devils then elected to intentionally walk to Rivas to load the bases for Quintana with two outs. Quintana lined a single to right field to score Stevenson and give Arizona a 6-2 lead.
Price worked scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, before coming back out for the eighth. After giving up a leadoff double, Price exited for freshman Gil Luna. Luna walked the only batter he faced to put two on for Megill. Megill got a groundout and then a double play to end the inning unscathed. He then pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for the Wildcats.
Arizona returns to action Friday at Washington to open Pac-12 play. First pitch in the three-game series opener is set for 6:05 p.m.
The Arizona Wildcats won their fifth straight game Tuesday night, topping in-state foe Arizona State 6-2 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Wildcats have also now won five straight at Phoenix Municipal, dating back to 2016. The win improved Arizona to 10-6 on the season and dropped Arizona State to 8-9.
Preston Price, who tossed 2 1/3 stellar innings in relief, earned the first win of his career. Tylor Megill pitched two hitless innings to earn his fourth save of the season. Nick Quintana, Travis Moniot and Matt Fraizer all had two-hit games in the win.
The Wildcats struck first Tuesday, plating a pair of runs in the second inning. Quintana started the rally with a line drive single to center. He moved up a base on a groundout from Tate Soderstrom to put a runner into scoring position for Cameron Cannon.
Cannon, the sophomore second baseman, came through with an RBI single to right to plate Quintana, who slid in head first to beat the throw from right fielder Trevor Hauver. On the next pitch, dFraizer chopped a single up the middle to score Cannon and make it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
The Sun Devils got one run back in the fourth inning when Alika Williams singled with two outs off starter Avery Weems to score designated hitter Taylor Lane. Weems got the next batter to ground out to end the inning and keep it a one-run lead.
The Wildcats then got him some more run support in the fifth, breaking through for three runs. Like the two runs in the second, Arizona’s rally came with two outs. Cal Stevenson dropped down a bunt single with one out and Ryan Haug was then hit by a pitch to move Stevenson to second and put two men on. Alfonso Rivas reached on a fielder’s choice, but Haug was thrown out at second to put runners on first and third. Quintana followed with a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Soderstrom.
Arizona State went to the bullpen before Soderstrom’s at-bat to bring in righty Fitz Stadler. Soderstrom battled to a full count and eventually drew a walk to score Stevenson and make it 3-1. Cannon then hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Gage Workman, who committed a throwing error, allowing Quintana and Rivas to score and make it 5-1.
The Sun Devils responded in the bottom half of the inning when freshman Spencer Torkelson hit a solo home run off Weems to make it 5-2. A walk and a single then put two runners on with two outs for Lane. The Wildcats went to the bullpen and brought in righty Preston Price to face him. Price did his job, getting Lane to strike out to end the threat.
Arizona stretched the lead back to four runs in the sixth. Stevenson walked with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Haug. The Sun Devils then elected to intentionally walk to Rivas to load the bases for Quintana with two outs. Quintana lined a single to right field to score Stevenson and give Arizona a 6-2 lead.
Price worked scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, before coming back out for the eighth. After giving up a leadoff double, Price exited for freshman Gil Luna. Luna walked the only batter he faced to put two on for Megill. Megill got a groundout and then a double play to end the inning unscathed. He then pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for the Wildcats.
Arizona returns to action Friday at Washington to open Pac-12 play. First pitch in the three-game series opener is set for 6:05 p.m.
