From Arizona Athletics
Michael Flynn tossed three scoreless innings in relief and Cesar Salazar delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Arizona Wildcats to a 4-3 win over College of Charleston on Saturday evening at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
The win improved Arizona to 32-17 and dropped College of Charleston to 24-26. The Wildcats had to wait several hours to get the win to even the series at a game apiece. The game was originally scheduled for 2:30 p.m., EST, but was pushed back five hours to 7:30 because of storms in the area.
When it started, the game had a familiar start to Friday’s game.
The Cougars grabbed an early lead for the second straight game, scoring once in the first and two more times in the third. Catcher Ereven Roper scored the first run on a sacrifice fly and then third-place hitter Tommy Richter scored a run on an RBI groundout. After an intentional walk, Roper reached on an error to score another run and make it 3-0.
But Arizona chipped away at the lead right away, plating two runs in the fourth. With two outs and runners on the corners, Jared Oliva and Nick Quintana executed a double steal to move Quintana up to second and score Oliva to make it 3-1. Ryan Haug then singled up the middle to score Quintana from second and cut the lead to one for the Cougars.
Starter Cameron Ming tossed up a zero in the fourth to get his team back to the plate, where they would tie the game for him. With one out and runners on the corners, JJ Matijevic hit a high chopper to first base to score Cameron Cannon, who led off the inning with a single.
With the game tied, Ming got through the next two innings holding the Cougars off the scoreboard, and then exited after six. The junior lefty went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out six and walked three on 103 pitches, receiving a no-decision.
The score remained 3-3 until the top of the eighth inning. Haug doubled to right field with one out to bring up Mitchell Morimoto with one out. After a first-pitch strike, coach Jay Johnson decided to pinch-hit Cesar Salazar for Morimoto. Salazar worked the count to 2-2 and then singled through the right side to score Haug from second and give Arizona the lead.
Flynn, who entered in the seventh had no problem protecting the lead. First, with the game tied, he struck out the side in the seventh to set up Arizona’s eighth inning run. In the eighth, he worked around a leadoff walk to retire the next three batters he faced. In the ninth, the sophomore right-hander worked a perfect inning to close out the game.
All total, Flynn went three innings without allowing a hit or a run. He walked one, struck out four and improved to 3-0 on the season.
Haug finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI to pace the Cats offensively. Cannon reached base all three times, going 1 for 1 with a run, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Arizona will now look to win the series Sunday. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. MST/1 p.m., EST. Sophomore right-hander Cody Deason will start for the Wildcats.
Michael Flynn tossed three scoreless innings in relief and Cesar Salazar delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Arizona Wildcats to a 4-3 win over College of Charleston on Saturday evening at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
The win improved Arizona to 32-17 and dropped College of Charleston to 24-26. The Wildcats had to wait several hours to get the win to even the series at a game apiece. The game was originally scheduled for 2:30 p.m., EST, but was pushed back five hours to 7:30 because of storms in the area.
When it started, the game had a familiar start to Friday’s game.
The Cougars grabbed an early lead for the second straight game, scoring once in the first and two more times in the third. Catcher Ereven Roper scored the first run on a sacrifice fly and then third-place hitter Tommy Richter scored a run on an RBI groundout. After an intentional walk, Roper reached on an error to score another run and make it 3-0.
But Arizona chipped away at the lead right away, plating two runs in the fourth. With two outs and runners on the corners, Jared Oliva and Nick Quintana executed a double steal to move Quintana up to second and score Oliva to make it 3-1. Ryan Haug then singled up the middle to score Quintana from second and cut the lead to one for the Cougars.
Starter Cameron Ming tossed up a zero in the fourth to get his team back to the plate, where they would tie the game for him. With one out and runners on the corners, JJ Matijevic hit a high chopper to first base to score Cameron Cannon, who led off the inning with a single.
With the game tied, Ming got through the next two innings holding the Cougars off the scoreboard, and then exited after six. The junior lefty went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out six and walked three on 103 pitches, receiving a no-decision.
The score remained 3-3 until the top of the eighth inning. Haug doubled to right field with one out to bring up Mitchell Morimoto with one out. After a first-pitch strike, coach Jay Johnson decided to pinch-hit Cesar Salazar for Morimoto. Salazar worked the count to 2-2 and then singled through the right side to score Haug from second and give Arizona the lead.
Flynn, who entered in the seventh had no problem protecting the lead. First, with the game tied, he struck out the side in the seventh to set up Arizona’s eighth inning run. In the eighth, he worked around a leadoff walk to retire the next three batters he faced. In the ninth, the sophomore right-hander worked a perfect inning to close out the game.
All total, Flynn went three innings without allowing a hit or a run. He walked one, struck out four and improved to 3-0 on the season.
Haug finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI to pace the Cats offensively. Cannon reached base all three times, going 1 for 1 with a run, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Arizona will now look to win the series Sunday. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. MST/1 p.m., EST. Sophomore right-hander Cody Deason will start for the Wildcats.
