May 15, 2011

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Arizona scored in each of the first-four innings and the No. 26 Wildcats defeated Washington State 8-1 to even a three-game Pacific-10 Conference series at Bailey-Brayton Field, Sunday.

After the game's start was delayed 46 minutes by rain, the Wildcats (31-17, 10-10 Pac-10) scored a single run in the first, three in the second and third and one in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead against the Cougars (21-23, 6-14 Pac-10) and starter Chad Arnold (2-4).

"The game was over by the fourth inning," Washington State Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "We did some good things late, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole against a good team like Arizona."

The run support was more than enough for Wildcats' starter Kyle Simon (9-3) who tossed a six-hitter and needed just 90 pitches to earn a complete game victory. Simon retired 17 of the first 18 men he faced and pitched to the minimum through six innings. The only blemish was a leadoff single by Brett Jacobs in the third inning, but the Cougar left fielder was erased on a double play.

The Cougars threatened in the seventh when Trace Tam Sing doubled and Nate Blackham singled to put runners at the corners with no one out. However, Simon picked off Blackham, struck out Derek Jones and induced a ground out from Taylor Ard.

Washington State finally broke through in the ninth when Tommy Richard led off with a triple and scored on a ground out by Tam Sing.

The series concludes Monday with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.