UA rolls to easy win in final home game

He left with a 15.86 ERA.

In other words, Arizona pounded him for 17 earned runs on 16 hits over 5 2/3 innings as the Wildcats won, 20-6, to sweep the three game season series from the Antelopes (24-23).

"It was a big win," UA senior left fielder Jason Hendricks said. "We get some momentum added on from ASU going into Cal this weekend."

Hendricks provided the big blast of the game, crushing one of Aikins' pitches over the left-center field fence for a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. Hendricks was 3 for 5 on the night, missing the cycle by only a single.

Arizona (32-21) was already up 15-6 when Hendricks launched his bomb.

The other big hitters for the Wildcats were senior right fielder Colin Porter (2 for 6, triple, three RBI) and junior designated hitter Rob Shabansky (3 for 4, triple, four runs scored).

Hendricks said that despite the lopsided scores this year against Grand Canyon (17-0 and 13-2), the games did mean something.

"Every game is important to us," he said. "It's for fine-tuning, for guys working on their swings and getting them ready for the weekend."

UA head coach Jerry Stitt said that is the main focus for non-conference games played this late in the season.

"For the guys, the more pitches they see the better off they are," he said. "And (pitcher Tony) Milo needed the work bad."

Milo (8-5), who had been Arizona's No. 2 starter for much of the season, had dropped five straight before going three innings while striking out three and only giving up one run on five hits.

"I felt good," Milo said. "I just wanted to go out there, get some outs, get my rhythm back, hit my spots."

Arizona gets two days to rest up before heading out to end regular season and Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division play at California starting Friday night.