From Arizona Athletics
The Utah Utes rode a strong start from pitcher Josh Tedeschi to top the Arizona Wildcats 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series at Smith’s Ballpark.
Tedeschi earned his first win of the season, tossing 7 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out four on 95 pitches. The lefty got two early runs from his offense and kept the Utes in the lead throughout his start.
The loss dropped Arizona to 23-17 on the season and 6-11 in Pac-12 play. Utah improved to 12-28 and 6-11 in league play.
Utah got one run in the first off Arizona starter Michael Flynn when cleanup hitter Erick Migueles singled home leadoff man DaShawn Keirsey Jr., with two outs to get Utah on the board. One inning later, Keirsey tripled with two outs to score Davis Delorefice, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Keirsey’s triple made it 2-0, which stayed the score all the way until the seventh inning when the Cats finally got to Tedeschi. Seve Romo singled with one out and advanced to second later in the inning on a wild pitch. With two outs, freshman left fielder Blake Paugh delivered a two-out, RBI single through the left side to plate Romo and make it 2-1.
But Utah responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Utah second baseman Oliver Dunn hit a fly ball off reliever Avery Weems that was held up by the wind and got over Paugh’s head in left for an RBI double to make it 3-1.
The Cats cut into the lead again in the eighth when sophomore second baseman Cameron Cannon hit a solo home run to left for his sixth long ball of the season to make it 3-2.
Reliever Zach Sherman kept the Utes off the scoreboard in the eighth to give the Cats one more chance in the ninth. Romo reached on an error to start the inning, but was then erased on a fielder’s choice by Donta Williams to put a runner on first with one out. Pinch-hitter Tate Soderstrom flied out to left for the second out of the inning.
Williams then stole second to get into scoring position for Matt Fraizer. Fraizer, though, lined out to right to end the game.
Flynn settled down after the first two innings, and went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs, while striking out four. He was charged with the third run in the seventh and was charged with the loss, falling to 5-3 on the season. Trenton Stoltz got the final four outs for Utah to earn his sixth save of the season and second in as many games.
Romo had the lone multiple-hit game of the day for Arizona, finishing 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Cats and Utes will close out their series Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
The Utah Utes rode a strong start from pitcher Josh Tedeschi to top the Arizona Wildcats 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series at Smith’s Ballpark.
Tedeschi earned his first win of the season, tossing 7 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out four on 95 pitches. The lefty got two early runs from his offense and kept the Utes in the lead throughout his start.
The loss dropped Arizona to 23-17 on the season and 6-11 in Pac-12 play. Utah improved to 12-28 and 6-11 in league play.
Utah got one run in the first off Arizona starter Michael Flynn when cleanup hitter Erick Migueles singled home leadoff man DaShawn Keirsey Jr., with two outs to get Utah on the board. One inning later, Keirsey tripled with two outs to score Davis Delorefice, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Keirsey’s triple made it 2-0, which stayed the score all the way until the seventh inning when the Cats finally got to Tedeschi. Seve Romo singled with one out and advanced to second later in the inning on a wild pitch. With two outs, freshman left fielder Blake Paugh delivered a two-out, RBI single through the left side to plate Romo and make it 2-1.
But Utah responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Utah second baseman Oliver Dunn hit a fly ball off reliever Avery Weems that was held up by the wind and got over Paugh’s head in left for an RBI double to make it 3-1.
The Cats cut into the lead again in the eighth when sophomore second baseman Cameron Cannon hit a solo home run to left for his sixth long ball of the season to make it 3-2.
Reliever Zach Sherman kept the Utes off the scoreboard in the eighth to give the Cats one more chance in the ninth. Romo reached on an error to start the inning, but was then erased on a fielder’s choice by Donta Williams to put a runner on first with one out. Pinch-hitter Tate Soderstrom flied out to left for the second out of the inning.
Williams then stole second to get into scoring position for Matt Fraizer. Fraizer, though, lined out to right to end the game.
Flynn settled down after the first two innings, and went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs, while striking out four. He was charged with the third run in the seventh and was charged with the loss, falling to 5-3 on the season. Trenton Stoltz got the final four outs for Utah to earn his sixth save of the season and second in as many games.
Romo had the lone multiple-hit game of the day for Arizona, finishing 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Cats and Utes will close out their series Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
