The Arizona baseball team wrapped up its second straight series victory yesterday, shutting down the Minnesota offense to claim the weekend's rubber match, 7-2.

Mark it: What: UA vs. Oklahoma St. When: 2 p.m. Where: Sancet Field

Junior pitcher Richie Gardner (3-0) scattered eight hits over five innings for the Wildcats (8-4) in the win, giving up just one run despite pitching on an injured leg.

Head coach Andy Lopez said he was impressed by his performance under the circumstances.

"He pitches out of jams, and he's consistent," Lopez said. "(His leg) is not 100 percent, and yet he's pitching pretty well with it not being 100 percent."

Lopez said Gardner is scheduled to have his leg X-rayed tomorrow to determine the severity of the injury.

"He's hobbling. I hope it's nothing bad," Lopez said.

After a shaky start, Gardner got some timely help from his defense to keep Minnesota (1-2) under wraps. With the score tied at one in the top of the third and a Gopher runner on second, junior center fielder Brian Anderson ran down a Jake Elder double and fired the ball in to second baseman Moises Duran, who gunned down the runner at home to prevent the run from scoring.

Minnesota loaded the bases later in the inning, but Gardner retired two straight batters to escape unscathed.

The Gophers, who left 11 men on base, would not score again until their final at-bat.

Wildcat senior Wes Zlotoff relieved Gardner in the sixth and threw three innings of scoreless ball in his first appearance of the season. Mark Worrell capped the game, pitching the final inning and allowing one run.

"I think (the bullpen) has been great, and you need that, especially if the starters aren't going to go out and throw seven (innings.)" Lopez said.

Duran sparked the Wildcat offense, driving in two runs on 3-for-3 hitting and drawing an intentional walk. Sophomore Richard Mercado had three hits, while Anderson posted two hits including a triple off the top of the wall. First baseman Pat Reilly extended his hitting streak to 17 games despite being robbed of a home run on a deep fly to center in the sixth.

"(Reilly) and I might need to mix in a couple more reps in the weight room, and we might be able to hit the ball out," Anderson said.

Sunday's win was the second in a row for Arizona, which rallied from an early deficit on Saturday to win, 11-5.

The Wildcats knocked out 16 hits in the game, including three apiece from Brad Boyer, Derek Decater and Jeff Van Houten.

Sean Rierson (2-0), the Collegiate Baseball Pitcher of the Week last week, picked up his second win with six innings of four-run ball.

In Friday's action, the Wildcats suffered a disastrous first inning and never recovered, losing 13-10. Starter Joe Little (2-2) surrendered seven runs at the start of the game and didn't make it out of the first inning. Anderson started the weekend off much as he finished it, batting 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. against Oklahoma State in their fourth game in four days.

Anderson said he didn't expect the fourth game to tax the pitching staff.

"Our pitching is so deep, I don't think it should affect us. We have four or five guys that could start for us, including (Monday's starter) John Meloan," Anderson said.