UA crushes Antelopes

Karen C. Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior infielder Jake Thrower approaches homeplate after hitting a homerun against Grand Canyon last night. The Wildcats topped the Antelopes 15-8, ensuring themselves of their first winning season since 1993.

But the win meant more than just a victory over a non-conference opponent. The win guarantees Arizona its first winning season since 1993.

Junior shortstop Jake Thrower led the way offensively as the Wildcats (30-22) collected 18 hits and used five pitchers in extending the Antelopes' (11-33) losing streak to 10 games.

"We had been struggling the past couple of weeks," Thrower said. "I'll take a win anytime. It's a great win, and wins are hard to come by."

Thrower went 3-for-4 with four RBI, collecting one apiece in four of his five plate appearances. He hit a solo home run in the third and added RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings before his sacrifice fly in the seventh.

"I was trying to make contact today and ended up having a good day," Thrower said.

Thrower knocked all his hits off of Grand Canyon's left-handed starter Tim Huff (0-7), who went the distance in picking up the loss. Thrower entered the game 0-for-22 against southpaws.

Huff allowed 15 runs off of 18 hits, two walks and two wild pitches. Huff, the Antelopes' all-time leader in appearances, finished with seven strikes.

"Huff has been a great pitcher for Grand Canyon," Arizona head coach Jerry Stitt said. "For four years he has been a great pitcher for them, that's why they left him in there. He is something special to them."

Huff is the older brother of freshman Arizona pitcher Kevin Huff.

The Wildcats posted three runs in the first inning, thanks to a three-run homer over the left field wall by junior designated hitter Tom King.

The Antelopes led briefly in the top of the fifth inning after stringing together one-run innings in the first, second and fourth before sending two across in the fifth for a 5-4 advantage.

The Wildcats used five pitchers, with freshman Tony Milo pitching the first four innings. Freshman David Abbot (3-1), who pitched just the fifth inning, got the win.

"It (the win) is important for two reasons," Stitt said. "First, it got us back on track and secondly that is our 30th win, so we are assured a winning season."

The game also marked the return of senior Jeff Gjerde, who had been sidelined since the beginning of February with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Gjerde pinch-hit in the eight inning and received a welcome-back ovation from the crowd. Gjerde lasted five pitches, striking out.