By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 10, 1998

Baseball team snaps pair of losing streaks

The Arizona baseball team doesn't usually play on Thursday nights.

Maybe it should.

Arizona thumped UCLA 10-4 in Los Angeles last night, ending a six-game losing streak on the road and a six-game losing streak in Pacific 10 Conference play.

The first of three games was played on Thursday so the teams wouldn't have to play on Easter Sunday.

The Wildcats (27-16 overall, 8-11 Pac-10 Southern Division) erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh inning to open up the game. UCLA (15-23, 8-14 Six-Pac) could only respond with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Two errors by the Bruins allowed UA right fielder Colin Porter and left fielder Jason Hendricks to reach base. After catcher Greg Clark walked and designated hitter Russ Brown flew out to left, center fielder Rafell Jones drove in Porter on a sacrifice fly to center.

The Bruins' woes continued as a wild pitch by starter Paul Diaz (1-2) allowed Hendricks to score and Clark to advance to second. Diaz then walked second baseman Erik Mattern, getting himself pulled from the game.

Reliever Ryan Reightley came in and promptly gave up a two-run triple to UA shortstop Keoni DeRenne. An RBI single by first baseman Kenny Corley scored DeRenne before Porter came up again and flew out to end the inning.

It would be all UA left-hander James Johnson (5-3) would need, as he went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five.

Wildcat closer Ryan Moskau came in after missing the previous series against Arizona State and pitched the last 2 1/3 innings, giving up only one run on one hit and two walks. He struck out three but did not pick up the save because of the lopsided final score.

DeRenne was the top hitter for Arizona, going 3 for 5 with the triple. UCLA designated hitter Bill Scott was the only Bruin to get more than one hit, going 2 for 4 with an RBI on a solo home run, his second of the season.

Arizona and UCLA will go head-to-head again tonight and tomorrow in Los Angeles. Tonight's game pits UA's Tyler Haddix (0-0, 5.58 ERA) against the Bruins' Ryan Carter (1-1, 6.26).