Arizona Baseball downs Southeastern Louisiana, 7-4

Arizona Baseball was back at it at Hi Corbett Field taking on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions. as Chase Silseth drew the starting assignment for the Wildcats.

After a few nights off to refresh coming off a split to Ball State last weekend, the Arizona Baseball team was back in action against the nation’s hottest hitting team in Southeastern Louisiana. Once again looking to start the series off on the right foot, the Wildcats turned to ace right-hander Chase Silseth to build on the momentum he had coming off his last start.

To open the game, we almost had our first web gem of the season, as Donta’ Williams fell just short of pulling off a spectacular diving grab, that ended up being a lead-off double for the Lions. The trainer was called out but Williams remained in the game.

Arizona Wildcats

Following a sac bunt to move the runner to third, Silseth took control getting a weak pop out, and overpowering strikeout to retire the side to strand the runner on third.

Donta’ led things off in the bottom of the first for the Wildcats with a single, and advanced to second following Jacob Blas getting hit with two outs. With Branden Boissiere at the plate, a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position to start the at-bat, and then Boissiere drew a five-pitch walk, setting the stage for Jacob Berry with two down and the bases loaded.

Berry came through on a shallow fly ball that got lost in the lights for a three-run triple to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead after the first.

A pair of one-out singles in the second inning by Daniel Susac and Donta’ Williams started the 2nd inning threat for the Wildcats, and a throwing error on Williams’ bunt put runners on second and third with Ryan Holgate stepping to the plate. Holgate delivered for the Wildcats with a 2 run single that extended the Arizona lead to 5-0. Kobe Kato added an RBI single of his own in the 3rd as the Wildcats were fully in add-on mode now up 6-0 after three innings.

The Arizona Baseball team took full advantage of their opportunity to add on in the fifth as the Wildcats scored on a fielding error to help secure the win.

The Lions were finally able to get on the scoreboard in the sixth inning as Silseth finally proved that he is human after all, as he hit the leadoff batter, and then gave up a pair of singles and a double that drove in three runs closing Arizona’s lead to 7-3.

A sac bunt and fly out found Silseth with a runner on third before another RBI single made it a 7-4 game. Luckily, he was able to close out the inning with a strikeout to close the book on his second Wildcats outing. On the night, Silseth went 6.2 innings and striking out 10 Lions.

Vince Vanelle replaced Silseth with two outs in the seventh and proceeded to get a groundout to escape danger in the 7th. Vanelle continued into the eighth and despite having runners on first and second with no outs, Vanelle was able to get a line out, picked the runner off at second base, and a ground out to escape trouble in the inning.

With the offense stalling out after scoring their seventh run in the fifth, the bullpen answered the call as Preston Price came in for the save in the ninth. Despite a pair of singles, Price was able to lock down the win and the save by striking out three Lions batters.

Game Notes:

W: Chase Silseth (2-0)

L: Will Kinzeler (0-1)

SV: Preston Price (1)

Arizona hit .364 on the night, and leadoff batters hit .625

6 of the 7 Wildcats RBI’s came with 2 outs

On Deck

The Wildcats and Lions will square off again tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM MST, with Chandler Murphy (0-0 3.00) of the Wildcats facing Lions lefty Trey Shaffer (1-0 0.00). The game will once again be able to be streamed free of charge on Arizonawildcats.com with live stats also available. Bear Down, Arizona!