By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Anderson one bright spot for the Wildcats
The Arizona baseball team was unable to overcome a seven-run fifth inning in a 12-8 loss to Saint Mary's College yesterday at Sancet Field.
The loss snapped the Wildcats' two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 5-3 for the season.
The game was tied 2-2 entering the fifth inning, when the Gaels (1-1) exploded with seven runs on six hits to take a 9-2 lead.
"The biggest thing in baseball is trying to prevent the big inning," UA right fielder Shelley Duncan said. "Every manager and every coach in the history of baseball has always said that you got to prevent the big inning, and as a defense out there some of us did not make the big plays to prevent the big inning."
The Gaels faced four different pitchers in the fifth inning, roughing up starter Chris Goodman (1-1) for three runs in the inning.
Goodman, who earned a win in relief at Hawaii last week, was not able to get help from his defense.
"We did not pitch very well, and we did not play very good defense, either," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said.
The Wildcats used six different pitchers in the loss, a trend Stitt said could become a regular occurrence.
"We may do that all year long," he said. "Guys who are going to throw strikes are going to pitch. The other guys who can't do it (throw strikes) will come right out."
SMC received a solid pitching performance from sophomore Gabe Palma, who held the Wildcats to only one hit in the three innings he pitched.
One bright light for the Wildcats was freshman center fielder Brian Anderson, who hit safely in seven straight at-bats before being called out on an error in the seventh inning.
Anderson, who prepped at Canyon Del Oro High School, is eight for 10 in his two starts this season.
"I am just going out ready to play," Anderson said. "Unless we win, four hits doesn't matter."
Anderson, who Stitt said could be used as a pitcher tomorrow, also hit his first career home run in the ninth inning off Palma.
"He's been playing awesome," Duncan said. "It seems like any ball that is thrown up there, he will hit. I hope he keeps up his batting average like this the rest of the season."
UA sophomore second baseman Matt Abram hit a solo home run for the second straight game. Abram finished the game three for five.
The two teams complete the three-game series tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Sancet Field.
