Arizona baseball dominated a sloppy New Mexico State to win 10-0 on Wednesday night, but the Wildcats weren’t exactly excited after the game. The UA (12-4) beat the Aggies (1-12) to sweep the two-game series and win its third-straight game and sixth-straight mid-week game.
“We got some help offensively, we left a lot of people on base offensively,” Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez said. “It was OK, about a B.”
Shortstop Kevin Newman went 3-for-3 with a double and two walks and scored three runs. Second baseman Scott Kingery scored three runs and utility player Bobby Dalbec went 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and two doubles.
“We played a good game, swung the bat well, pitched pretty well — but that’s what we’re supposed to do,” Newman said. “New Mexico State, not Stanford, not Oregon, that’s what we’re supposed to do, come out and hang 10 runs and not give up a run.”
The score could have been worse. The Wildcats went 8-for-25 with runners on, 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-12 with two outs. Arizona left 11 runners on base.
Lopez said that the Wildcats won but didn’t do well offensively, and that they focused on themselves and not the opponent.
“I thought we did a horrible job offensively, horrible,” Lopez said. “I really did, and I don’t mean to be disrespectful to our opponent.”
Xavier Borde started for the Wildcats and went four-plus innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one hit batter, while giving up zero runs.
Rio Gomez (1-0) relieved him and went 2.1 innings while giving up one hit, two walks and zero earned runs to pick up his first win. The freshman is the son of ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez.
“I didn’t even know I won the game; I thought I just came in relief,” Gomez said. “I mean, obviously it’s nice to have the first win, but it’s just a little frustrating the way the outing went, I mean the walks. You never want that to happen. I mean, I just didn’t think I had my best stuff out there.”
Cody Moffett relieved him, making his second appearance of the season. Moffet pitched 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings and recorded two strikeouts.
“They’re a little bit lucky — I’m just being honest — they’re a little bit lucky,” Lopez said about the relievers. “I don’t want to take anything away from them, but I’m not trying to fool myself. They’re doing a good job, but they can be better.”
Arizona took the lead in the first when Kingery scored on a wild pitch. Then, catcher Handsome Monica drove in a run with a single. Designated hitter Riley Moore had an RBI single in the second inning.
The Aggies had five wild pitches and three errors.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the fifth inning. Right fielder Zach Gibbons hit an RBI triple and then scored on a wild pitch.
Kingery scored on a throwing error in the seventh inning and Newman scored on a wild pitch.
“I guess it might be the most somber 10-0 win we’ve ever had, definitely that I’ve ever been a part of,” Gomez said.
_______________
Follow James Kelley on Twitter.
