Arizona Baseball (9-6) completes three-game sweep of visiting North Dakota State, just before Pac-12 play begins next week.
It was an important weekend for the Arizona Baseball team, as the Wildcats were looking to continue building on some much needed confidence and momentum.
It hasn’t been an ideal start to the 2018 baseball season. After starting the year 3-0, the Wildcats would drop six of their next eight games, falling to 5-6 on the season.
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Well, after a much needed return to Hi Corbett, the Wildcats seem to have a bit of their mojo back.
Arizona had a huge win on Tuesday against San Diego State, a team they had lost to about two weeks prior.
Additionally in that win, they also got a bit of a jump start to their stagnant offense.
This weekend was another big one for Arizona. With North Dakota State visiting, it was a potentially great opportunity to build their confidence and improve their record.
Action started on Friday evening with Cody Deason on the mound. Despite the Bison taking an early, 2-0 advantage, the Wildcats would explode for six runs in the second inning.
Sophomore infielder Cameron Cannon would get things started, hitting a triple, that drove in two Wildcats. Sophomore outfielder Matt Frazier would then hit a sacrifice fly to score Cannon from third, ultimately giving the Wildcats the lead for good!
Over the course of the next several innings, Deason would deliver a strong pitching performance, going for seven innings, giving up just two hits and two runs, while striking out nine batters, picking up the win, and improving his record to 2-0 on the year.
Arizona would add seven more runs in the final, three innings, sealing game one by a 13-3 final.
Alfonso Rivas and Cannon would lead all Wildcat batters, going a combined six of nine from the plate, while driving in five runs.
#WinnerWinner at Hi Corbett! Cody Deason goes 7 strong with 9 K's as the Cats push across 13 runs on 17 hits to get the victory on Friday night!#BearDown I #MLBTrainingGround pic.twitter.com/3YGT8NgyJ9
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 10, 2018
Game two on Saturday would begin much earlier, as Michael Flynn would take the mound in this one.
Arizona would get to quick work against the Bison, taking it to them offensively. In the first inning, the Wildcats would tie things up at 1-1, when junior catcher Cesar Salazar walked, that would bring in Mitchell Morimoto. Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on the full bases.
Two innings later, the Wildcats would score two, when freshman outfielder, Blake Paugh would drive a double down the left field line, scoring Rivas and Nick Quintana off of an error.
Blake Paugh enters the game as a pinch-hitter and delivers with a double down the left field line scoring Rivas and Quintana! Cats now up 3-1!#BearDown pic.twitter.com/xG58uSLYgQ
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 10, 2018
The Wildcats would add three more in the fourth inning, taking a commanding 6-1 lead. They would three more runs, en route to a 9-4 victory!
Flynn would pitch just five innings, but put together a gutsy performance, surrendering just one run on two hits, while striking out three. He would get the win, improving his record to 2-0 as well.
#WinnerWinner at Hi Corbett! Michael Flynn gets the victory as the Cats clinch the weekend series! Stevenson, Rivas and Paugh each record multi-hit games. #BearDown | #MLBTrainingGround pic.twitter.com/dT2bSdhKio
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 11, 2018
Going for the sweep, Arizona would have an early start to their game on Sunday morning, as Sophomore Randy Labaut would get the start for the Wildcats. Arizona would seemingly have this one decided early on.
As North Dakota State was once again able to strike first, Arizona rebounded quickly and in a big way! Trailing just 1-0, the Wildcats would score seven runs in the bottom of the second.
Junior infielder Travis Moniot would get things started for the Wildcats, hitting a grounder that would score Tate Soderstrom from third. Senior Cal Stevenson would then single to right, scoring Cannon, giving the Wildcats the lead for good!
In the fifth inning, Arizona would tack another run, as Moniot rocketed a solo homer to left field, giving the Wildcats an 8-2 lead! This is just the third home run by the Wildcats this season.
Travis Moniot hammers one to left for his first home run as an Arizona Wildcat and then gets the silent treatment from the dugout!
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 11, 2018
His shot makes it 8-2 Cats as we head to the 6th. #MLBTrainingGround | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/BAdiwpZr5R
Labaut would put together a solid performance, pitching five and a third innings, giving up six hits and just one run. He would strike out just two Bison batters, as he picked up his first win on the year.
The Wildcats would add three more runs over the next few innings, securing an 11-2 win, improving to 9-6 on the season.
#WinnerWinner at Hi Corbett! Randy Labaut earns the win and the offense comes through with 11 runs.
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 11, 2018
We move to 8-0 at Hi C!#BearDown | #MLBTrainingGround pic.twitter.com/TFiiFLb7Cf
Cannon would once again lead the Wildcats’ offense, going a spectacular three of five from the plate, driving in three runs.
With the Win, the Wildcats have now won four-straight, and will have a little momentum before heading into their rivalry game versus the Sun Devils in Tempe on Tuesday. Arizona will face ASU just once, before officially opening their Pac-12 slate on Friday versus Washington in Seattle.
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At Zona Zealots, we are more than happy for the sweep over North Dakota State, and can only hope this leads to a great performance on Tuesday evening! Bear Down, Arizona!