After back-to-back blowout wins, the Wildcat veterans provided just enough offense to help the Arizona baseball team secure a series sweep over LaSalle this weekend at Sancet Stadium.
Despite being shut out in the first five innings, the Wildcats (8-4) brought down LaSalle (0-3) yesterday 3-2, and defeated the Explorers 15-4 and 15-1 on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
In the eighth inning, senior second baseman Brad Boyer singled to right field, stole second and was driven in on a double by junior shortstop Jason Donald to score the Wildcats’ winning run.
In the sixth inning, Donald hit a two-out double to right center field, scoring sophomore third baseman Colt Sedbrook to put the Wildcats on the board, 2-1.
Arizona knotted the score when Donald crossed home plate on a double by sophomore designated hitter Eric Berger.
“”It’s good to win a game like this,”” Arizona head coach Andy Lopez said. “”I was happy to see us come through.””
As a whole, Lopez said he saw some improvements in his pitching staff this weekend.
“”I hope it’s not the opponent, I’d like to think it was the pitching,”” he said. “”We don’t really chart it off with the opponent. If we call (a pitch on the) outer half and we get the ball on the outer half, we’re pretty happy.
“”For the most part, we got that this weekend.””
Although junior starter Brad Mills struggled at times, throwing 96 pitches in 5 1/3 innings, he limited the Explorers to two runs.
“”It was ugly,”” Mills said. “”In my opinion, I made a lot of bad pitches. Obviously, the results were good, and I kept us close to where we could pull it out and win, but I know I can get better.””
Said Lopez: “”Today was a little iffy with Mills, but he got away with some things.””
Junior closer Mark Melancon (2-1) earned the win, surrendering one hit in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Mills and Melancon combined for 14 strikeouts to tie a team season-high.
“”I’ve become a real smart coach whenever I have Melancon at the end,”” Lopez said.
In his first collegiate start, freshman Preston Guilmet (1-0) walked away with the win on Saturday as he put in seven innings of work, giving up one run and recording eight strikeouts. Berger (2-2) earned the victory in his Friday start, allowing one run while recording 10 strikeouts and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.
After committing 11 errors in the first series of the season and seven last weekend, the Arizona defense has picked up, as the Wildcats had just three this weekend against LaSalle.
“”We’re slowing down,”” Donald said. “”The first weekend was a little blip in the radar screen defensively. But I think guys are settling in a little bit and slowing the game down.””
