By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Kaiser pitches seven innings in Cats win
Rain delays during Arizona baseball games are a rare occurrence but a snow delay is something almost unheard of.
The Wildcats (6-7) had to endure a 10-minute delay yesterday before scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat visiting New Mexico 9-3 yesterday at Sancet Field.
"It was a good job by the boys who battled adverse conditions," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said.
Freshman pitcher Marc Kaiser (2-1) threw seven innings to earn the win, the longest outing for a UA pitcher this season. Kaiser struck out eight.
The UA victory snapped a five-game losing streak.
"The most important thing is that we got the win," Kaiser said. "It was a total team effort today. Hopefully we can get rolling."
Senior Daryl DeSalvo recorded his second save of the season.
"(UA pitching) Coach (Bill Kinneberg) told him that after his last start that he would have to be ready to go at least seven (innings)," Stitt said. "(Kaiser) was ready and did a good job. As time goes on, he will have to pitch a complete game."
Kaiser battled through a rough first inning in which the Wildcats' defense committed three errors that led to a UNM run.
In the next six innings, Kaiser allowed just two more runs.
"It was a rough start, but we did what we had to do to get out of it," Kaiser said.
The Wildcats scored two runs in the first inning when sophomore second baseman Matt Abram doubled to plate senior Ernie Durazo and junior Shelley Duncan to give the Wildcats the early lead.
Junior Clayton Bried - filling in for Duncan in right field - went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
Duncan took over as the Wildcats' designated hitter.
Kaiser (2-1) said that he is gaining more experience with each start.
"I'm young and I'm not that experienced at the college level, so I'm learning every time I go out there," he said. "I just need to learn as much as I can early in the season, so once we get into (Pacific 10) conference (play), I will be ready to go."
New Mexico starter Chris Cooper failed to get the run support that Kaiser received from his teammates. The senior left-hander allowed seven runs in six innings.
