The Arizona baseball team wrapped up its three-game weekend series with a 9-3 win over Nicholls State on Saturday, March 31 at Hi Corbett Field.
The Colonels took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning after Arizona starting pitcher Michael Flynn got himself into a bases loaded jam to begin the game. Nicholls’ Kyle Knauth would score from third off teammate Lee Clark’s sac-fly to right field. Flynn finished the day striking out four while giving up three earned runs off seven hits in five complete innings of work.
“Today was one of those days I just didn’t have my best stuff, I knew I just had to battle through it and throw some quality strikes,” Flynn said of his first inning struggles.
The ‘Cats responded immediately as they too picked up a run in the bottom of the first frame.
Alfonso Rivas continued his offensive performance doubling into the gap in center field allowing Cal Stevenson to score tying the game 1-1. Freshman Donta Williams’ two-run homerun in the second inning giving Arizona a 3-1 lead was the first of his young Wildcat career to go along with his first career RBI.
“He’s got some sneaky power,” manager Jay Johnson said of Williams. “We recruited him because he’s got a lot of ability I think he’s got a bright future if he continues to progress.”
Williams was just as surprised himself.
“I feel like everybody was shocked. I’m a little guy it’s not my characteristic to go deep like that,” Williams said.
Arizona added two more runs in the second after Nick Quintana hit a two-run bomb giving him his third HR of the season and the Wildcats a 5-1 lead. Nicholls scored in the third and fifth inning giving them a total of three for the day while the ‘Cats added three more runs of their own in the fourth.
With the Sweep of Nicholls State on Saturday the ‘Cats have won three series at home including the sweeps Bryant and North Dakota State.
Arizona (16-10) hits the road this week where the Wildcats have struggled this year as they will take on the New Mexico Lobos (12-12-1) on Monday, April 2. The Lobos are currently on a four-game win streak.
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