GOAZCATS.com - UA takes first game from UNLV

February 25, 2009

Jason Barrera
GOAZCATS.com Baseball Staff Writer

Fresh off a solid season opening performance at home versus the Sacramento State Hornets, the Arizona baseball team rolled to a 14-7 victory over the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in Las Vegas for their first road victory of the year.

After an 11-run output on Sunday, the Wildcats' already hot bats were almost melting with a 14-run, 19-hit outburst on Tuesday as they crushed the baseball to every end of Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

Wildcat starter Kyle Simon carried over his notable relief work from Friday, with a steady first collegiate start, going 4 1/3 innings, giving up 6 earned runs, walking two and striking out one. However he was chased from the contest after losing some control in the 5th inning.

Early scoring aided the freshman Simon, as the Wildcats were able to manufacture an unearned run in the first inning, thanks to a two-out error by Rebel second baseman Jarred Frierson.

Bryce Ortega, an early season UA offensive dynamo, came around to score after singling with one out, then advancing into scoring position via fielder's choice. Ortega scored the first run of the game when Matt Presley grounded up the middle, where Frierson committed the Rebels' first error.

The real Wildcat offense would show up in a big way in the second inning.

Steve Selsky and Jett Bandy both doubled and scored on catcher Dwight Childs' double. Hunter Pace followed suit with an RBI triple into the left center alley to drive in Childs, then scored on a Rebel starter Glenn DeWeese wild pitch, staking the UA to a 5-0 advantage.

The Rebels would try and stop the bleeding with reliever Thomas Whitsett, who proceeded to walk Ortega, allow a Bobby Coyle single, and throw a wild pitch to increase the Wildcat lead to 6-0.

Struggling to find control from the stretch, Whitsett walked Matt Presley to load the bases. A bounce out to first base by Dillon Baird and a Steve Selsky sacrifice fly added two more runs to the UA lead.

Continuing to pour on the offense throughout the contest, Dwight Childs blasted Whitsett's first third inning pitch for a solo home run.

UNLV broke the offensive ice in the third after Trent Fuller reached second on a two base throwing error by third baseman Jeff Bandy. Fuller would eventually score on a J.J. Sferra groundout.

The Wildcats, in the fourth, plated Presley and Baird, after both singled and scored; Presley on a Rebel first baseman Jesse Wright error, and Baird via Jeff Bandy single, extending the Wildcat lead to 11-1.

UNLV kept the fight in its half of the fourth with Rance Roundy and Jesse Wright infield singles. Both would come around to score after a Justin Aldridge RBI groundout and an Anthony Morel RBI single. Trent Fuller drove in Morel with an RBI double, reducing the Wildcat lead to 11-4.

The Runnin' Rebels would get the rest of their scoring in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. After Simon loaded the bases with one out, Drew Beurlein came up with the big hit for the Rebels, clearing the sacks with a three RBI double to deep right center.

Matt Chaffee replaced Kyle Simon with one out, got the last two outs of the fifth inning, and earned the win.

With the Rebels getting a little too close for comfort in the sixth, Steve Selsky, who finished 3-5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI, singled and advanced to third base after a passed ball and a Jeff Bandy sacrifice fly. Pace drove in Selsky with a single to tally his second RBI of the contest, expanding the UA lead to 13-7.

Still unsatisfied, Pace bunted for a base hit, swiped second base, advanced to third via groundout and plated the 14th run for Arizona on yet another UNLV passed ball.

To clamp down and seal the deal, UA head coach Andy Lopez brought in his two relief fire ballers. Cory Burns and Jason Stoffel were nails once again, combining for 6 strikeouts over 4 innings to hold the 4th Wildcat victory.

Arizona will go for the sweep Wednesday at noon with Donn Roach on the hill as the scheduled starting pitcher. UNLV will counter with Corey Hales.

Arizona Athletics contributed to this report.

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