Game Recaps


By James Kelley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Game 1: Cats battle back from run deficit

After Long Beach State jumped out to 5-0 lead, the Wildcats rallied, scoring four runs in the ninth to win the opener 6-5.

Sophomore catcher Nick Hundley opened up the UA scoring with a solo home run in the 7th off of national player of the year, junior pitcher Jered Weaver.

In the ninth, sophomore left fielder Trevor Crowe drove in sophomore third baseman Brad Boyer for the winning run. Boyer, in because of an injury to junior second baseman John Hardy, had two RBIs as well.

Freshman pitcher Mark Melancon got the save, his second, stunning the Blair Field crowd.

Game 2: The Beach tames the Wildcats

Long Beach State staved off elimination with a 9-4 win.

Arizona lost its first game of the post season after not being able to overcome a four run Dirtbag 7th.

The Wildcats held a 3-2 lead before the 49ers scored three runs 6th. The UA answered with one in the home half of the 6th.

With two outs in the 7th, Arizona loaded the bases but sophomore catcher Nick Hundley flied out to second baseman TJ Bruce, who dove between the right fielder and first baseman to make the catch, which was No. 1 in SportsCenter's top 10 plays of the night.

Game 3: Arizona wins in extra innings

Sophomore catcher Nick Hundley knocked Arizona back to Omaha with a walk off sacrifice fly in the 11th, scoring senior second baseman Moises Duran.

The Wildcats erased a 2-1 Long Beach State lead in the bottom of the 7th with a two RBI single by junior right fielder Jeff Van Houten.

With the UA two outs from the College World Series in the 9th, the Beach tied the game. Freshman pitcher Mark Melancon (6-4) got the win, pitching 2 2/3 innings of one hit ball in relief of sophomore John Meloan, who threw 8 1/3 strong innings.