Arizona (2-0) used two big pitching performances Saturday to take the first two games of its series with Bryant University at Hi Corbett Field to open the 2018 season. Rain in Tucson Friday forced the start of the Wildcats' season back a day meaning a day-night doubleheader Saturday, and it was the work on the mound and in the field that dominated the nearly seven-hour long day.

The Wildcats took the first game of the day 4-0 behind a strong showing from ace Cody Deason. The junior right-handed pitcher from Ojai, California had several scouts watching his 2018 debut and he delivered with seven shutout innings of work with just three hits allowed to go with three strikeouts.

Things didn't get much better for Bryant (0-2), which made the trip from Rhode Island, in the second game as it was another junior righty's turn to go to work on the mound at Hi Corbett. Michael Flynn, who also is a California native, showcased his abilities in the night game pitching 5.1 scoreless innings to help the Wildcats secure the second game of the day and move to 2-0 to start the year with a 5-1 win.

"I was proud of our team," Arizona coach Jay Johnson said. "Opening day is always a little weird. Anxiety for a lot of guys, but we have a lot of veterans out there and they responded like veterans against a really good team that's gonna win a lot of games.

"That's gonna be a big challenge tomorrow."

Saturday's game started as a duel between the two starting pitchers with Bryant's Steve Theetge matching Deason's performance for four innings. Eventually the Wildcats were able to break through in the bottom of the fifth inning when second baseman Cameron Cannon singled up the middle to bring around third baseman Nick Quintana from second base for the only run UA would eventually need to take the win.

It went down as an unearned run as Quintana reached base on an error from Bryant shortstop Jimmy Titus. Theetge went on to finish the game with seven innings pitched and the one unearned run allowed.

When the Bulldogs went to their bullpen in the eighth inning the Wildcats took advantage of the relievers tacking on three more runs in their last at bat of the game.

Centerfielder Cal Stevenson singled to left to bring around freshman Donta Williams, who was being used as a pinch runner, before first baseman Alfonso Rivas singled up the middle to score Cannon and Travis Moniot for a three-run eighth inning.

Senior Tylor Megill came in out of the bullpen to earn a save in 1.1 innings pitched for the Wildcats.

"The nerves were definitely going today," Deason said. "I felt really good. Obviously you know command was a little iffy, but for the first day I'm OK with that. Seven innings and give the team a chance to win, I'm OK. ... I've always been a competitor and I'm not gonna let a run score easy."

In the nightcap at Hi Corbett, Flynn led the way for the Wildcats working through some tough spots like Deason had to with Bryant's batters taking plenty of big swings. The junior from Los Alamitos, California faced 22 batters in his 5.1 innings of work for the Wildcats and he, too, posted a scoreless night in his first start of the year. Flynn gave up three hits and walked one batter to go with five strikeouts during his time on the mound for the 'Cats.

"I just wanted to throw strikes, " Flynn said of his first outing of the season. "Get my team in and out quick, so we could get the bats going. You get all those nervous jitters out of the way. I thought it went pretty well for the most part."

At the plate the Wildcats used another big inning to put the Bulldogs away, but this time it came early as UA jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning using a bit of small ball while taking advantage of a couple mistakes in the field by Bryant.

Moniot was hit by the pitcher before he was moved over by a bunt single from Matt Fraizer on a play that ended with Moniot at third on an error by Bryant pitcher Jack Patterson. Stevenson then used a bunt single to bring in Moniot to give UA its first run of the game.

Mitchell Morimoto then singled up the middle to bring around Frazier. After a wild pitch and an error from Bryant, Morimoto came all the way around to score an unearned run and cap the big third inning for the 'Cats.

The sixth inning brought the next batch of scoring with Bryant getting its first run of the day on a deep home run off the wall in straightaway center field at Hi Corbett Field from third baseman Tyler Panno off UA senior Jason Seever.

UA catcher Cesar Salazar helped the Wildcats tack on another run in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a pop up to left field scoring designated hitter Michael Benson from third after Benson doubled earlier in the inning and was moved over by a Cannon single.

Stevenson tripled to right center to open the bottom of the seventh inning and Morimoto flied out to bring him home for the fifth run of the game. The senior centerfielder finished the day with five hits.

"Two wins in a day to start the season you'll take that any day of the year," Stevenson said. "I was excited to get out there and really compete with the guys. Fortunately we came away with two wins."

Arizona will look for the series sweep Sunday afternoon when the Wildcats finish things off with Bryant at noon. Johnson didn't name his stater for Sunday's game, but he did say to expect a number of relievers to be used as his team searches for a third arm in its starting rotation.