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Diggins again solid as Wildcat take 1 from USC

All season long, Ben Diggins has been the one constant for the UA baseball team. Currently 7-0, the sophomore right-hander has given the Wildcats a fighting chance every Friday afternoon.

After taking one game of three from top-ranked Stanford last weekend, Arizona with Diggins on the mound took a game from Southern California Friday night at UA's Sancet Field, marking the first UA win against USC in Tucson since 1993.

Without Diggins, the Wildcats proceeded to lose Saturday and yesterday's games, 20-8 and 6-2 respectively.

"I'm really impressed with the way we've played the past two series," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "We just didn't do what we had to do to win."

Friday night, Diggins held the Trojans to just one earned run on nine hits as the Wildcats defeated USC, 11-4. Diggins became the first UA pitcher in 25 years to start off the season with a 7-0 record.

Juniors Ernie Durazo and Ryan O'Donnell hit three-run homers as the Wildcats drubbed Southern California's Mark Prior for 10 runs on 13 hits.

O'Donnell, filling in for injured right fielder Shelley Duncan, was one-for-three with two walks and three RBI in the game.

"O'Donnell is like a little spark plug out there for us," Durazo said. "All in all, it was a good team victory. We were relaxed out there, we stayed on (USC) every inning."

Diggins agreed, hinting that his best was yet to come.

"I felt pretty good out there," he said. "I felt better than I did in the Stanford game."

USC got the better of the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon, 20-8. Freshman second baseman Anthony Lunetta homered twice for USC in the victory, while the Wildcats used six pitchers in the loss.

Senior left-hander Rob Shabansky (1-3) allowed seven runs in 1 1/3 innings in the game, to take the loss.

Sunday afternoon's game, the third and decisive tilt of the series, produced a rarity in college baseball - a pitcher's duel.

UA lefthander Tony Milo was solid through five innings, when he was forced to leave the contest after taking a line drive off his back.

Milo managed to finish the inning, but was pulled from the game as he attempted to warm up in the sixth inning. Milo allowed two runs on six hits in the outing, his second start of the season

"He was awesome," Durazo said, "It's unfortunate, unfortunate that the ball hit him. He was fired up, you could tell he was in the zone."

Stitt believes that the injury isn't serious.

"He should be all right for next weekend," he said.

The Wildcats and Trojans took a 2-2 tie into the ninth inning when senior Mike Crawford, who took over for Milo, walked Lunetta and allowed a double to catcher Beau Craig.

An intentional walk to third baseman Justin Gemoll loaded the bases for USC outfielder Rob Garibaldi.

Arizona's strategy failed, however, as Garibaldi doubled to left field, scoring two runs. The next batter, Josh Percell, doubled as well, giving the Trojans a 6-2 lead.

The Wildcats were retired in the ninth inning without scoring, as the Trojans prevailed by four runs.

"(USC) had a few cheap hits in the last inning, but that's baseball," Durazo said.