3 INTs, 5 sacks lead defense to victory

If Saturday's Spring Game is any indication of things to come this fall, one thing is certain: The Wildcat football program will draw a crowd.

Arizona held its annual Spring Game Saturday afternoon in front of about 5,500 fans at Arizona Stadium. Last year, 450 fans showed up for the scrimmage.

"There was a lot of people out here and it's good to see we have the support of our fans," sophomore safety Darrell Brooks said. "We hope we came out and proved that (we) were worthy for them to come out and watch us." [Read article]

In one of its toughest road swings of the season, the top-ranked Wildcat softball team managed to keep its perfect Pac-10 record intact by sweeping the Bay Area teams this weekend.

Yesterday's game against No. 4 California lasted eight innings and ended after freshman center fielder Caitlin Lowe scored on a wild pitch by Cal pitcher Kelly Anderson in the top of the eighth to give the Wildcats (43-1, 7-0 Pacific 10 Conference) a 3-2 edge. [Read article]

The Arizona baseball team outlasted UT Pan American 5-2 yesterday at Sancet Stadium to earn its second straight sweep and fifth consecutive win. Arizona beat the Broncs 9-4 Saturday and 12-5 Friday.

For 6 1/2 innings, the Wildcats (21-15) and Broncs played to a one-run tie, Arizona scored four runs in its half of the seventh and held on for the win.

"We made it pretty interesting, but you have to give credit to their (pitcher)," head coach Andy Lopez said. "He was hitting his spot and changing speed. He did a really good job." [Read article]

If the Arizona football team's success hinges on how well its quarterback does, Saturday's Spring Game did not bode well. It was much of the same for starting quarterback Kris Heavner: glimpses of greatness coupled with miscues.

In his first extensive action since being named starting quarterback, Heavner threw for 101 yards on 12-for-25 passing, but had two interceptions in the offense's 26-20 loss. [Read article]

The Arizona track and field teams had a busy weekend of competition in California, splitting their time among three competitions. Most of the Wildcats participated in five-day Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., while the Arizona throwers took part in events hosted by Cal State Los Angeles and Long Beach State.

Sophomore Robert Cheseret delivered another remarkable performance, finishing second in the invitational section of the men's 5,000-meters with a time of 13:22.65. His new time beat the Arizona record by 10 seconds and is a 23-second improvement from the Arizona freshman record he set last year. [Read article]

The No. 40 Arizona women's tennis team closed out the regular season by defeating No. 41 Arizona State at home Saturday.

Arizona won the doubles point by winning two of three doubles matches and went on to win in the first three positions, giving the Wildcats a 4-3 win over the Sun Devils.

In doubles action, junior Kelly Perry and freshman Jessie Rochefort teamed up to defeat Arizona State's team of Rebecca Rankin and Joslynn Burkett 8-3. ASU then defeated Arizona's team of senior Debbie Larocque and freshman Kasia Jakowlew 8-2. [Read article]

The 23rd-ranked Arizona men's tennis team downed No. 34 Arizona State 5-2 Saturday at the Whitman Tennis Center in Tempe.

The Sun Devils took an early lead, taking the doubles point thanks to an 8-1 win by Clinton Letcher and Daniel Davies over the Wildcats' Paul Warkentin and Daniel Andrus, and an 8-4 victory over Arizona's duo of Colin O'Grady and Roger Matalonga by ASU's Chris Stewart and Jonathan Kinsella. Arizona's Whi Kim and Timothy Mullane won in the No. 3 spot over Christopher Biro and Ryan McBride, 8-3. [Read article]

Behind another stifling defensive effort, Arizona's men's lacrosse teamed capped its regular season with an 11-3 victory Saturday night over Arizona State in Tempe.

Junior attackman Adam Paris tallied three goals and two assists for the Laxcats (12-3, 6-1 Western Collegiate Lacrosse League), who scored 10 or more goals for the eighth straight game - all Arizona victories.

Sun Devil attackman Jeff Pilon, who entered the match leading the WCLL with 46 assists, managed only one goalsetter against an Arizona defense seemingly bent on disrupting the Sun Devils' offensive flow. ASU's three goals were all scored full quarters apart, with junior midfielder Nick Cicchetti scoring netters in the first and fourth periods. [Read article]