Cats finally win at Southern Cal

After two losses, five costly errors and dominating performances by two opposing pitchers, the Arizona baseball team bounced back and managed to salvage its weekend series at Southern Cal with a 3-2 win yesterday.

The win gave No. 7 Arizona (17-2 overall, 1-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) its first road victory of the season.

The No. 3 Trojans (10-3, 2-1) clobbered Arizona 10-3 Friday and then came from behind to beat the Wildcats 4-1 Saturday.

Arizona junior southpaw James Johnson (3-0) was able to hold off Southern Cal's hot bats, going eight innings while giving up only four hits and two runs on the day.

Left-hander Ryan Moskau got his third save of the year by pitching a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the ninth.

The Wildcats had fallen behind 1-0 on an RBI ground-out by Trojan designated hitter Jason Lane when UA shortstop Keoni DeRenne doubled home second baseman Erik Mattern and DH Josh France in the top of the third.

Southern Cal tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by pinch-hitter Jeff DiPippo, but Johnson managed to escape the inning and held on through the eighth.

In the top of the ninth UA junior catcher Greg Clark doubled to right field, and pinch-hitter Rob Shabansky then moved Clark to third on a single.

Junior Russ Brown stepped to the plate, pinch-hitting for center fielder Rafell Jones, and promptly doubled down the right field line to score Clark and give the Wildcats the win.

Trojan reliever Jack Krawczyk (0-1) took the loss, just a day after he earned the save against the Wildcats to tie the all-time conference record for saves in a career (31).

Friday's 10-3 blowout was the Wildcats' first loss of the year. Trojan starter Seth Etherton (4-0) showed why he is considered one of the best in the Six-Pac by going eight innings while giving up one run on four hits while striking out nine.

Arizona right-hander Darrell Hussman (2-1) wasn't quite as lucky, getting shelled in six innings by giving up eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits.

Trojan catcher Eric Munson hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, turning a 2-1 game into a blow-out.

Saturday's game saw UA starter Shabansky (5-1) carry a no-hitter into the seventh inning before an RBI single by third baseman Morgan Ensberg and a two-run homer by left fielder Jeremy Freitas gave Southern Cal a 3-1 lead that it would not relinquish.

Arizona returns home to play two non-conference games against Southern Utah tomorrow and Wednesday at Sancet Field at 3 p.m., and then Six-Pac rival California comes to town for a three-game set starting Friday.