CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Trevor Crowe runs the bases during this week's series against Portland. Crowe went 4-for-5 with six RBIs and scored a run in Arizona's marathon victory yesterday.

No. 21 Wildcats outlast Portland Pilots, 15-12

About the only positive result that came out of last night's marathon was the a Wildcat victory.

Arizona outlasted Portland 15-12 but suffered through sloppy fielding and inconsistent pitching in a four-hour torture session.

The teams combined for 29 hits, 22 walks, nine different pitchers and seven errors that closed out a painful series sweep for the Wildcats, who sank the Pilots 19-4 on Tuesday and endured a 20-minute post-game lecture from Lopez about the team's lack of focus.

But after a short team meeting last night, Lopez seemed jovial.

"We won. Sometimes the wins aren't going to be pretty and (this game) was a great example," Lopez said.

Maybe the Wildcats were still feeling the negative effects of dropping two close games against Texas last weekend, or maybe they were exhausted from playing their fifth game in six days.

Whatever it was, the win was downright ugly.

Portland (3-11) shelled Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week Sean Rierson for seven runs on 11 hits that chased him from the mound in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Arizona (14-7) waited through seven walks and three Pilot pitchers to score eight runs and cling to a one-run lead.

Neither team lagged on offense, but each victimized themselves to the point neither could control the game.

Both sides seemingly forgot the fundamentals: Pilot pitchers picked off three Arizona base runners, UA committed two key late inning errors that led to two UP runs and Portland posted four miscues, including an errant throw to an uncovered third base.

It wasn't until UA center fielder Terrence Taylor singled home catcher Nick Hundley to break a 12-12 tie that brought some sort of order to the circus. Left fielder Trevor Crowe then doubled home third baseman Brad Boyer and Taylor to pad the lead.

"I had a rough day (on Tuesday)," Crowe said, who went 1-for-6 in the series opener. "But baseball is a game of failure and I wanted to come out and have a strong game."

Crowe finished the day 4-for-5 with six RBIs.

Freshman Chris Frye took his turn on the UA closers' carousel to pitch a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season, but Lopez said he still hasn't found a late inning man.

"Frye is a candidate, but you watch," said Lopez. "(This) little Mexican guy said we're going to have a closer when it's all said and done."