Behind a complete game by Nate Bannister, the Wildcats defeated the Cardinal 4-1 to take the first game of the three-game series.

Bannister continued his brilliance at Hi Corbett Field. He was nearly un-hittable tonight, only giving up two hits. He now has a 5-0 record with an 0.83 ERA going into the game at Hi Corbett.

After giving up a single in the first and a one out double in the second, Bannister locked in and shut down the Cardinal offense, retiring 20 consecutive batters through the eighth inning.

Tristan Beck, who is now 4-3 with a 1.93 ERA going into the game, had an impressive game himself, but the Wildcats got to him in the fifth. Cody Ramer began a two-out rally with a double that rolled all the way to the right field wall, and Gibbons followed up with a single right to bring him in.

Gibbons has reached base in every single game he has played this season, extending his on base streak to 32 games.

The Wildcats added on another run in the seventh with JJ Matijevic scoring from third base on a passed ball. Pinch hitter Kyle Lewis drove in Dalbec, and Oliva scored on another passed ball to make the score 4-0.

It looked like pinch hitter Austin Barr finally got to Bannister with a double to leftfield with two outs in the eighth, but he missed first base and was called out when the Wildcats appealed.

Bannister ran into a little trouble when Beau Branton reached first on an infield single and Hoerner singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but he was able to get Matt Winaker to strike out. Mikey Diekroeger drove in Branton, but Quinn Brodey flied out to end the game.

The Wildcats improve their overall record to 21-13, and are now 6-7 in the Pac-12. They will go for the series win tomorrow night, with Bobby Dalbec getting the start. Dalbec is 7-3 this season with a 3.07 ERA.

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