The odds of hitting an inside-the-park home run are always slim – March 2005 against Nevada-Las Vegas marked the last time the Arizona baseball team conquered such a feat.

But with Vegas playing at Sancet Stadium last night, second baseman Colt Sedbrook busted the oddsmakers in front of 1,134 people against UNLV (5-4).

No. 1 Arizona (6-1) defeated the Rebels 6-5, powered by another offensive attack – launched from Sedbrook’s two-out, two-run inside-the-park home run in the second inning. The ball bounced hard off the wooden left-centerfield wall, allowing enough time for both designated hitter Brad Glenn and Sedbrook to score.

“”I was just like, ‘Wow I can’t believe I did that,’ me being slow and everything,”” Sedbrook said.

He finished the night 2-for-3, and from that point onward, the Arizona bats kept warm despite the cool Tucson night.

Continuing both his personal and team’s home run tear, first baseman C.J. Zeigler blasted a solo shot in the seventh on a change-up down the middle – his sixth and the team’s 16th bomb in seven games.

Zeigler recently switched to a more aggressive approach at the plate, as opposed to the Georgia series that provided him a platform to take pitches, “”get a feel for everything, (and) get timing down,”” he said.

“”I think if I set my standards high, then I can’t look anywhere but look up at it and achieve my goals,”” Zeigler added. “”I try to keep the same mentality every time.””

Yet another new face ignited the offensive fireworks – freshman shortstop Bryce Ortega made his first career start and finished a perfect 3-for-3 (one double, two singles and a walk) after UA head coach Andy Lopez shuffled the lineup.

In search of solidifying the starting shortstop position, Lopez said tonight’s all-around performance by Ortega will factor into the consideration of defining the starting role, after being impressed not only by his solo home run in the fourth inning, but also the intangibles, such as running pickoff attempts.

Arizona committed two more errors – making the season total 16 – prompting Lopez to focus on the team’s defense and pitching.

“”Let’s be realistic, that (offensive production) is not going to happen over a long stretch of time,”” Lopez said. “”The consistency is going to be pitching and defense. We really want to solidify ourself defensively.””

Right-hander Mike Colla made his first college start mostly successful in all but one bad pitch, throwing 5 1/3 innings while allowing six hits, three earned runs and four stirkeouts after 98 pitches.

Picking up the no decision, Colla pitched a solid first two innings, but struggled to find the plate in the third (two walks), allowing a bases-clearing 3-RBI double to Rebels third baseman Steve Rinaudo, who finished the night 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs.

From that point onward, Arizona threw in four more pitchers to secure a one-run lead. Lopez utilized his dual closers to finish the last two innings – left-hander

Daniel Shlereth pitched a perfect two outs in the eighth, and right-hander Jason Stoffel recorded his fourth save after earning a solid four outs.

“”You got a lot of confidence,”” Sedbrook said. “”They’re the type of guys when they come in and they throw well on their ‘A’ game, it’s going to be lights out.””

Left-hander Matt Chaffey came in to relieve Colla in the sixth, but only faced two batters after allowing a walk and hitting a batter. Lopez quickly went to the bullpen to right-hander Cory Burns, who earned the win after escaping a bases-loaded sixth inning jam with a 5-4-3 double play.

UNLV left a total of 11 runners on base.

“”Those (pitchers) come in, it’s all business and they get their job done,”” Sedbrook said.