For the second time in a week, the Wildcats’ bullpen cost the Arizona baseball team a series sweep.
Arizona freshman Konner Wade was spectacular on Wednesday, going six innings and giving up only two hits while striking out seven, but the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (12-3) notched eight of its ten hits in a fluky seventh inning en route to a 9-7 win over the Wildcats.
“”It was very unique. You’d have to see it to believe it,”” head coach Andy Lopez said about the seventh inning. “”Every hop went the wrong way. There was a fly ball you couldn’t have thrown into a better area. Routine ground balls were taking bad hops. Those innings show up, and we saw it today.””
The Wildcats (10-3) jumped out to a 7-0 lead after six and a half innings behind Johnny Field’s 1-for-3 day at the plate, including a three-run home run in the fifth.
“”(Field) has done a great job with (Steve) Selsky being out,”” Lopez said. “”He’s going to be a good player for us. He had a very good two days.””
Matt Chaffee (1-1) got the loss, getting tagged for eight earned runs in the costly seventh.
Even though the Wildcats let a sweep get away, Lopez said that the positives of the series greatly outweigh the negatives.
“”We played well except for one inning,”” Lopez said. “”We pitched well. Even in the seventh inning (Wednesday) we didn’t pitch poorly.””
Wade’s performance was one of the highlights of the weekend for Lopez, and it may have been even better if the freshman wasn’t working on a pitch count.
“”It was really exciting to get a start,”” Wade, the Scottsdale native said. “”I was kind of nervous at the beginning, but I settled in. I was throwing my changeup and fastball for a strike, and when you have command of your offspeed, it’s going to be a good day.””
Selsky eyeing return
Ever since going down with a broken bone in his right hand during preseason camp, junior right fielder Steve Selsky has been itching to get back on the diamond.
He’ll get his wish on March 19 when Arizona hosts San Francisco for a three-game series.
“”We just found out on Monday when we were flying out of Tucson,”” Lopez said. “”That gets him back a week before Pac-10 play starts. He’s been doing work off of a tee and things like that, so he’ll be ready to go.””