Citizen Staff Writer
JOHN MOREDICH
jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona received good pitching, solid defense and plenty of offense in an 11-2 victory over Sacramento State on Sunday.
In other words, it was exactly what the Wildcats didn’t get the day before in an eight-error, 10-7 loss at Sancet Stadium.
The rebound left UA feeling a lot better, especially with the Wildcats heading to UNLV on Tuesday as part of an 18-game schedule in a 24-day stretch.
“It was so good to bounce back. I have had nightmares that were more settling than the other night,” said UA third baseman Brad Glenn, who had three errors Saturday. “This team is capable of good things. It humbled us and let us know early what can happen if you don’t keep your head in the game.”
The Wildcats (2-1) still committed a sixth-inning error Sunday that led to the Hornets’ (1-2) two runs against UA starting pitcher Donn Roach.
Freshman Roach, making his debut, earned the victory after allowing three hits in six innings – much better than the seven unearned runs UA pitchers gave up the day before.
“He did everything you want, especially after a game like the night before,” UA coach Andy Lopez said about Roach. “He didn’t look like a freshman.
“He was throwing a fastball for location, a splitter for an effective pitch and he threw a breaking ball early in the count when he had to,” Lopez added. “We talk about presence on the mound all the time. He had great presence.”
Arizona had plenty of offense to win the series finale, with Hunter Pace getting three of the team’s 13 hits. Bryce Ortega, Steve Selsky and Daniel Butler added two hits apiece.
Glenn’s RBI double started off a five-run UA scoring spree in the third inning. Selsky drove in a run with a groundout, while Jett Bandy had a two-run double and Pace a double.
Selsky added more power with his first homer of his career, a line drive shot to left-center field.
“I’ve been waiting to be able to square a ball up like that. I did,” Selsky. “I knew it was out.”