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Arizona salvages one game from OSU

This was not the way UA's trip to Oregon was supposed to go.

UA loses 2 more Pac-10 games in disappointing series

Wildcat baseball team, fresh off its first Pacific 10 Conference series win of the season, went into Corvallis, Ore., with hopes of sweeping the lowly Beavers.

However, UA's hopes went sour over the course of the weekend, losing 6-3 and 10-4 to OSU (20-18 overall, 3-6 Pacific 10 Conference) on Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The Wildcats (21-23 overall, 6-9 Pac-10) avoided a sweep by the Beavers yesterday, defeating Oregon State, 10-5.

Friday, UA pitcher Ben Diggins lost his second straight decision as the Beavers beat UA, 6-3.

The sophomore ace started the season with an 8-0 record, but has lost his last two decisions at the hands of Washington and OSU.

Diggins was outdueled by OSU's Thad Johnson. The junior right-hander retired 10 of the final 11 Wildcat batters, going the distance for the Beavers. Johnson has failed to allow an earned run in his last 15 innings of work.

"Thad kept us in the game," OSU head coach Pat Casey said in a press release. "Fortunately, our guys stuck with it, pushed and pushed, and finally something good happened."

The Beavers were boosted by Brian Barden's seventh-inning grand slam. The home run erased a 1-0 Arizona lead for good, and the Wildcats lost the game, 6-3.

Shortstop Keoni DeRenne and first baseman Ernie Durazo each had two hits for the Wildcats in the losing effort.

It wouldn't be the first time in the weekend that a grand slam would sink Arizona.

A day after Barden's effort, OSU's Curtis Davis hit a second-inning grand slam to defeat the Wildcats, 10-4.

Tony Milo, who had two strong outings en route to securing the team's No. 2 starter role, was lit up for seven earned runs on eight hits in three innings. The senior walked eight men in his outing.

Following the game, Davis talked about his team's improvement since the 1999 season. In defeating the Wildcats, OSU surpassed last season's win total with 20 victories.

"We showed signs we could be a good club," he said in a press release. "Things are going good for us right now."

Saturday's victory ensured the Beavers their first conference series win of the season.

The Wildcats went into Sunday's game hoping to salvage one win from an otherwise disappointing series. UA responded, defeating the Beavers, 10-5.

Right fielder Ryan O'Donnell, who is filling in for injured sophomore Shelley Duncan, had a two-RBI double in the first inning. The Wildcats scored three runs in the game's first frame.

Casey believes that the Wildcats' early lead helped the team prevail.

"The key was Arizona getting on the board early," Casey said in a press release, "They're a very talented club."

Senior lefthander Rob Shabansky allowed just one hit after six innings of work.

Erik Torres, who hit a school-record three home runs last Saturday at Washington, added a three-run blast in the victory. It was Arizona's first-ever victory at Oregon State.

The Wildcats were traveling home last night and could not be reached for comment.

The Wildcats return home to Sancet Field next Thursday, as UA will take on Washington State in a three-game series.

There will be no game Sunday due to Easter.