MATT HEISTAND/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore Arizona pitcher Marc Kaiser delivers a pitch last month against Arizona State at Sancet Field. The Wildcats beat Southern California 15-12 yesterday to salvage a win from the three-game road series against the Trojans.

Arizona held off No. 23 Southern California to win 15-12 after nearly blowing a seven run lead yesterday.

The Wildcats were able to escape with their lone win of the series after opening the weekend with two losses.

The Wildcats (28-19 overall, 6-9 Pacific 10 Conference) led 14-7 entering the bottom of the eighth, but the Trojans scored five runs and knocked out pitcher Tony Sulser after 3 1/3 innings of relief. Center fielder Brian Anderson came on in relief, but gave up a two-run single that glanced off third baseman John Hardyâs glove for the final runs of the inning.

USC head coach Mike Gillespie was ejected for arguing balls and strikes and left with a standing ovation after kicking dirt on home plate several times.

ãThe umpires in these games were a little inconsistent. Sometimes the home team gets some calls because of home-field advantage. This series, the calls were different every time,ä said Anderson, who was pitching at the time of the ejection.

Anderson added an insurance run in the ninth with a solo shot to right to put the Wildcats up 15-12.

ãIt was pretty cool because I was a little disappointed that (the USC hitters) started to get to me. I wanted to make up for my pitching,ä Anderson said.

Senior Wes Zlotoff pitched a perfect ninth to close out the win.

USC (28-14, 11-4) hung on for a 12-10 win on Saturday despite a Wildcat comeback bid. Pitcher Marc Kaiser gave up nine runs in 2 2/3 innings as UA fell behind 11-3 after the third inning.

Arizona answered immediately in the fourth when shortstop Brad Hassey homered to right field for his seventh of the year. Center fielder Brian Anderson singled to left and designated hitter Ken Riley homered to right center to cut the deficit to 11-6.

With two outs in the fifth inning, left fielder Justyn St. Clair and second baseman Moises Duran each singled. Hassey singled to drive in St. Clair while Duran advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by Trojan third baseman Jon Brewster. Right fielder Jeff Van Houten singled home Duran to close the score to 11-8.

Southern California added a run in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by designated hitter Joey Metropoulos.

UA answered with a run in the sixth behind a sacrifice fly by Riley and another in the ninth on Hasseyâs RBI single.

Hassey finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBIs and the home run in another UA offensive onslaught.

ãWe played hard and competed well enough for two wins, but for the most part, the coaching staff was pleased,ä said first baseman Pat Reilly.

Friday, USC hammered staff ace Sean Rierson for eight runs in five innings, while Anthony Reyes held the UA offense to one earned run in seven innings.

Catcher Chris Cunningham went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Hassey and Van Houten each had multiple hits.

Arizona will resume its schedule after a weeklong break because of finals against UCLA on May 10.