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Arizona Baseball gets back on track Against Washington State

By Eric Townsend

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: Starting pitcher J.C. Cloney
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: Starting pitcher J.C. Cloney /
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After being swept in Seattle last week, the Arizona Baseball team got back on track this weekend versus Washington State.

It was a tough, opening weekend in the Pac-12, when the Wildcats took on the Huskies in Seattle nearly two weeks ago. However, back within the friendly confines of Hi Corbett Field, the Arizona Baseball team got back on track against New Mexico State and Washington State this past week.

So far in 2018, it has definitely been a case of ups and downs for the Wildcats. A team that lost quite a bit of talent from last year, is still trying to find consistency with this group.

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It also doesn’t help stud pitcher Randy Labaut will miss the rest of 2018, after undergoing a pair of surgeries for compartment syndrome. For those who don’t know, compartment syndrome is a dangerous condition when pressure builds up to dangerous levels which can be caused by internal bleeding or swelling of tissues.

This will surely be a blow to the Cats, as Labaut has been having a solid year. Labaut was 1-1 with an ERA of 1.71 in 31.2 innings pitched, while appearing in seven games, and striking out 19 batters.

After being swept in Seattle, Arizona returned to action on Tuesday, when New Mexico State came to town once again. With senior Juan Aguilera on the mound for Arizona, the Cats would completely unload offensively in this one.

Alfonso Rivas would get things started for the Wildcats, tripling to right-center field, scoring Jacob Blas, and taking an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats would explode for five more runs, stretching their lead to six.

Arizona would add eight more runs over the course of the next few innings, pacing themselves to a 14-0 win.

Cesar Salazar and Cameron Cannon would lead the way offensive in this one, going a combined four of eight from the plate, driving in six of the Wildcats’ runs. However, freshman outfielder Blake Paugh, and Cal Stevenson would add two RBI’s each respectively.

Heading back into Pac-12 play on Friday evening against the visiting Washington State Cougars, junior Cody Deason took to the mound.

Arizona got to work quickly in this one, taking an early lead in the bottom of the first, when sophomore Nick Quintana would fly out to left field, scoring Stevenson. The Wildcats would add to their lead, when Blas singled up the middle, scoring Matt Frazier, making it 2-0.

Arizona would add three more runs over the course of the next few innings, making it 5-0. However, that’s when the Cougars would respond, scoring four runs in the top of the eighth inning, before the door was completely shut on them. The Wildcats held on to win this one 5-4, taking game one, and securing the first conference win of 2018.

Deason would pick up his third win, improving to 3-1 on the year.

Game two of the series would be the complete opposite. Junior left hander Avery Weems would take the mound on Saturday, with the Cougars jumping on him early. WSU would score five runs in the top of the first, taking a commanding lead.

From then on it was catch-up for the Wildcats. Despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, the Wildcats wouldn’t have much of a response until the seventh inning, when Salazar would single to first, scoring both Rivas and Cannon, cutting the Cougars’ lead to one.

Unfortunately, their comeback bid fell short, ultimately dropping the second game by a 5-4 final.

Needing a big performance in game three, junior Michael Flynn took the mound, delivering a strong outing.

The Wildcats would dominate early, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Leading 5-0, Quintana would come up to bat, demolishing a ball to left field on a two-run homer, making it 7-0.

Washington State would get a run back in the fifth and seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough in this one, as the Wildcats would win 9-2. Flynn would pick up his third win of the year, improving to 3-1 on the season, after delivering six and a-third solid innings, striking out eight and surrendering just two runs on four hits.

Quintana and Cannon would lead the way offensively, going a combined seven of ten from the plate, with five RBI’s.

Arizona’s 9-2 victory was the Wildcats’ 13th of the season, improving their record to 13-10 (2-4) on the season.

The victory was also head coach Jay Johnson’s 100th as the Wildcats’ head coach!

The Wildcats return to action on Thursday in a three-game, non-conference series versus visiting Nicholls.

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At Zona Zealots, we are excited the Wildcats were able to get back to their winning ways and hope they can continue building off their momentum! Bear Down, Arizona!

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