CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore John Hardy slides into second base during Arizona's 17-1 blowout victory yesterday over No. 24 Texas A&M. Hardy went 1-for-5 but drove in two RBIs.

It was a near-flawless series, but the Arizona baseball team's inability to close out a game deep into the ninth cost them a win Saturday, and the chance of sweeping a ranked team at home.

Arizona routed No. 24 Texas A&M 17-1 yesterday in the rubber match of the three-game set in response to Saturday's late-inning meltdown by the Wildcat bullpen.

"With the exception of two outs, it would have been a magnificent weekend," head coach Andy Lopez said.

On Saturday the Wildcats (11-5) built an 8-5 lead behind center fielder Brian Anderson's 3-for-5 performance and a solo home run by third baseman John Hardy. Sophomore pitcher Joe Little yielded three runs on seven hits in five and two-thirds inning of work and gave way to John Meloan.

The freshman pitched two scoreless innings and retired the lead-off man in the ninth inning but couldn't hold the Aggie offense.

A&M (10-4) exploded for four runs that chased Meloan and then tagged reliever Mark Worrell for four more until freshman Derek Rodriguez killed the rally during the 11-8 Aggie victory.

"There isn't a lot to say after a loss like that. I said to the team after the game, ĪSame (starting) time tomorrow' and I walked away," Lopez said.

Before Sunday's game Lopez addressed the team about rebounding from the tough loss against a momentum-driven team.

In the finale, pitcher Kevin Guyette gave up the lone Aggie run in the top of the first inning, but settled down to pitch deep into the seventh before letting the bullpen close out his first win of the season.

"I've been anxious for this start because it was my first one so I've been checking the weather report three or four times a day," said Guyette, who started in place of the injured Richie Gardner, the team's normal Sunday starter.

Guyette's strong performance may land him a closer's role, Lopez said.

Meanwhile the Wildcat offense pounded out 16 hits and scored in six different innings. Catcher Nick Hundley's three-run double to left center in the bottom of the third broke the game open, giving UA a 6-1 lead.

"We knew we had to battle back because that was a tough loss (on Saturday)," Hundley said. "We knew Kevin would be solid but we had to come out and score some runs too."

First baseman Pat Reilly later followed with an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 21 games, and also doubled in the eighth inning to finish 3-for-4 that day.

In Friday's game, junior Sean Rierson pitched seven innings of shutout baseball en route to Arizona's 11-0 win. Rierson, who was featured in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd," allowed six hits and walked none for his third win of the season.

UA will take on defending national champion Texas in Austin on Friday to start the Wildcats' second road trip of the season.