Baseball team sweeps opening series

Behind the arm of freshman Ben Diggins (1-0, 5 IP, 7 K, 4 H), and the bat of junior catcher Dennis Anderson (7 of 10, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI) the Wildcats started their season 3-0.

The Wildcats also beat the Gaels Friday 19-6 behind the bats of freshman right fielder Shelly Duncan, sophomore third baseman Erik Torres and Anderson, who combined for four home runs, and 7-2 Saturday when junior Josh Pearce struck out eight in five innings to pick up the victory.

"It is nice to get going with a sweep in the series," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "We have to get in the habit of sweeping. We played good defense and threw strikes and that is what I am trying to get in their heads."

Diggins, who made his UA debut on the mound yesterday, worked out of jams in the top of the second when he struck out the side with runners on second and third and in the top of the fourth when he struck out St. Mary's junior Kaazim Summerville after loading the bases with two walks and a single.

"It's a confidence builder but I shouldn't have gotten in those situations," Diggins said.

The Wildcats opened up the scoring early after junior center fielder Troy Gingrich singled, stole second, went to third on a ground-out by sophomore shortstop Keoni DeRenne and scored on a ground-out by Torres.

They didn't score again until the bottom of the fourth when Anderson had a bases loaded double, driving in three runs.

"I was swinging the bat pretty well and I wasn't swinging at bad pitches," he said. "Sometimes the pitchers throw it down the middle and you are able to hit it hard."

Diggins was replaced in the sixth inning by junior Tony Milo, who pitched three innings, giving up no runs and no hits while striking out four.

Dan Rosen can be reached at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.