It was another tough Pacific 10 Conference road series for the No. 23 Arizona baseball team. The Wildcats only came away with one win in three games against the Oregon Ducks in Eugene, Ore., during the weekend.
One of the biggest problems for the Wildcats (24-15, 6-9 Pac-10) has been the inefficiency of their second and third starters, and that held up on Saturday.
Tyler Hale gave up four earned runs on three hits in just 1.2 innings to give the Ducks (21-17, 4-8 Pac-10) a 7-3 victory.
But Hale wasn’t the only pitcher that struggled. The series got off to a rocky start on Thursday night as Kurt Heyer suffered his second loss of the season after working 7.2 innings.
The right-hander gave up three runs on nine hits and also gave up two walks.
Arizona reliever Bryce Bandilla came on to try and stop the bleeding but was unable to hold on to the 2-2 tie after giving up an RBI single to the Ducks’ KC Serna.
Despite the two losses, Kyle Simon’s three-hit gem on Friday night led the Wildcats to their only win of the weekend.
“”Simon was outstanding,”” said head coach Andy Lopez. “”I think he threw 94 pitches, something around there, he did a great job.””
It was a pitchers duel throughout the first six innings, with both teams keeping each other in check with one run apiece.
Leading off in the top of the seventh, Arizona freshman Johnny Field delivered a solo shot to give the Wildcats the 2-1 advantage.
Simon held pace in the seventh and then delivered a brilliant bottom of the eighth, striking out the side to take any hope out of the Oregon bats. Arizona took game two 2-1.
Despite only striking out five batters, the right-hander managed to not issue a walk during his entire nine innings on the mound.
“”I think all the games are pretty important now,”” Lopez said. “”We’re not doing what I hoped we be doing in Pac-10 play, again hopefully I’ll get our guys ready to play.””
Arizona heads back home on Tuesday to take on ASU in the second of its non-conference match ups with its in-state rival. The Wildcats are just 1-3 against the Sun Devils this season.