Baseball team rolls to sweep

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore outfielder Rafell Jones dives into home under the anticipating eyes of Keoni DeRenne (right) and Teddy Gonzalez (center) in the game against Southern Utah yesterday at Sancet Field. The Wildcats beat the Thunderbirds 13-1.

If it had been clear and sunny Tuesday, the Thunderbirds could have had 24 hours in between blowouts.

Eighth-ranked Arizona (19-2 overall, 1-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) crushed Southern Utah (4-8) 16-3 and 13-1 at Sancet Field yesterday afternoon.

"I think it just helps us fine tune things," UA senior left fielder Jason Hendricks said. "This was very beneficial to our team."

The offensive onslaught certainly raised some averages.

Hendricks was 5 for 7 in the two games with his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a mammoth shot that cleared the center field wall.

"The bottom line is in the fall I really worked with (UA head) coach (Jerry) Stitt to fine-tune my swing," Hendricks said.

Freshman shortstop Keoni DeRenne also had a big day, going 6 for 8 with his fifth homer, two triples, a double and three RBI.

"I don't know what it is," DeRenne said of his continued offensive exploits. "I think it has to do with confidence, seeing the ball well and just swinging as hard as I can and making contact."

DeRenne fell a double short of the cycle in the second game, but while he said it would be nice to finally hit for the cycle after falling short in two games earlier this year, he can wait.

"Not too many baseball players can do it," DeRenne said. "To even come close is pretty good."

DeRenne also felt the sweep will help the Wildcats.

"For us it just gets us back on the winning track," he said.

Arizona came into the game after losing two of three at Southern Cal, but Stitt said the team had nothing to be ashamed of.

"We played great out there," Stitt said.

He added the most important thing a two-game series can do is get the reserves playing time and many of the Wildcats' middle relievers time on the mound.

"They believe we're a good club," Stitt said. "You have to get ABs (at-bats) and time on the mound. We made good plays in the field today and the guys we use off the bench got in."

Sophomore left-hander Tony Milo (5-0) looked strong in the second game, striking out eight batters in four innings of work while only giving up one run on three hits.

"To tell the truth I didn't really have my stuff working today," Milo said. "Today my change-up was working and that was all I needed. They just couldn't seem to hit it."

Right-hander Dave Abbott (2-0) picked up the win in the first game, limiting the Thunderbirds to only three runs on three hits over four innings.

Left-hander Scott Wood showed he had recovered from injury problems from earlier in the year by pitching three scoreless innings to pick up the save, giving up only one hit and striking out two.

"Woody's a good pitcher," Stitt said. "He feels great right now and he showed it."

Other Wildcats who led UA to a pair of victories include first baseman Kenny Corley (3 for 6, four RBI), third baseman Omar Moraga (4 for 6, three RBI) and center fielder Rafell Jones (4 for 6 with a two-run homer).

Pinch-hitter Russ Brown, who won the last game against Southern Cal, continued to hit well, hammering a pitch off the right field scoreboard for his first home run of the year.

Brown and his teammates will look to continue their winning ways tomorrow when California hits town for a three-game Six-Pac series starting at 3 p.m.