By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wildcats lose home opener, BYU pitcher baffles hitters
The UA bats were as cold as the temperature at Sancet Field yesterday.
The Wildcat baseball team struggled to score runs in their home opener, eventually losing to Brigham Young, 8-4.
Arizona (3-2) were only able to muster three hits through the first eight innings as Cougar starter Nate Fernley (1-0) struck out 11 batters.
"He did his job," senior third baseman Erik Torres said. "He made his pitches and got good hitters out. "
Fernley, a native of Long Beach, Calif., held the first 11 Wildcat batters hitless until senior first baseman Ernie Durazo singled up the middle in the fourth inning.
Durazo's hit would be one of just six on the night for the Wildcats.
The Cougars put the game out of reach in the eighth inning after senior shortstop Seth King and sophomore right fielder Eric Carson hit back-to-back home runs to give BYU a 7-1 lead.
King, a transfer from Utah Valley State, went 4-for-6 and had two RBIs in the game.
BYU jumped on Arizona starter Sean Rierson (0-1) early and often - the freshman allowed seven hits and two earned runs in his first start at home, which lasted just four innings.
"He threw too many pitches," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "He was missing his spots. Normally he's pretty good on hitting his spots."
Rierson got into trouble early in the first inning, loading the bases. Showing poise beyond his years, Rierson was able to get out of the jam.
The freshman was not so lucky in the second inning, however. After loading the bases again, BYU scored the game's first run after UA junior shortstop Brad Hassey bobbled the ball while trying to turn a double play.
The Arizona defense committed three errors.
"I think some of it was frustration," Torres said. "A lot of players took their at-bats out onto the field."
Down 8-1 in the ninth inning, UA managed a late-game rally, scoring three runs, but were not able to close in on the Cougars.
The Wildcat rally was put to an end with runners on first and third when left fielder Justin St. Clair popped up to the catcher to end the game.
Right fielder Shelley Duncan said he hoped his team could continue their late-game intensity for the rest of the series, which continues today and Saturday at Sancet Field.
"I hope we show that kind of attitude the whole game (today) and not wait till the ninth inning," he said.
UA freshman right-hander Marc Kaiser (1-0, 1.80) will face senior left-handed pitcher James Ray (0-0) this afternoon at 3.
Duncan hopes the Wildcats come out with a different attitude in today's game.
"I hope our whole attitude changes," Duncan said. "I hope everyone comes out firing and the bench is upbeat and everyone wants to get a hit every single time and we don't waste any at-bats."
