The Wildcats were in Tempe Tuesday night to face in-state rival Arizona State for the first time this season. Behind strong pitching from Avery Weems, the cats defeated the devils 6-2 to improve their winning streak to five games.

Avery Weems pitched 4 2/3 innings and let up two runs in his fifth start of the season. Preston Price came on in the fifth with runners on first and second and slammed the door on any ASU attempted comeback. 

Arizona struck early with two runs in the top of the first with two outs. Nick Quintana scored on an RBI single by Cameron Cannon and later Cannon scored on a single by Matt Frazier. ASU got a run back in the fourth to make it a one run game.

The ‘Cats paddened the lead later with a bases loaded walk from Tate Soderstrom. Cannon came up again and lined a ground ball to third base and the ‘Cats were able to score two more on an error and increases the lead to 5-1. In the bottom half of the inning the devils hit a solo home run to get back within three but that is all they would get the rest of the night.

After a two-out single from Quintana, the Wildcats regained a four run lead. In the eighth, Price let up a leadoff double to start the inning and reliever Gil Luna came in and let up a walk to the only batter he faced. Tylor Megill was able to get an inning ending double play to end any hope of a Sun Devil rally. Megill came back out for the ninth and secured a 6-2 victory for Arizona.

Arizona now improves to 10-6 and get their first win in a true road game. Arizona will visit the Washington Huskies this weekend and will return to Hi-Corbett on Tuesday, March 20 to start a seven game homestand with a single game versus the New Mexico State Aggies and then they will host three game sets against both Washington State and Nicholls. 

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