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UA baseball loses 2 of 3 to Nevada

When unranked Nevada knocked off No. 3 Stanford last Monday, some regarded the win as a fluke.

Jerry Stitt did not.

The UA head coach was not surprised, claiming that solid pitching can defeat even the best of teams.

Stitt fell victim to his own adage last weekend, as UA dropped two of three games to the Wolfpack at Sancet Field. The weekend series brought the Wildcats' overall record to 8-6.

Following the game, Stitt reflected on the first quarter of the season

"I thought we would be better than 8-6," he said. "We've lost some games that we should have won. That's the way baseball is."

UA squandered a 6-1 lead on Friday afternoon, as Nevada defeated the Wildcats by scoring three runs in the seventh inning and five runs in the eighth. The Wolfpack prevailed, 10-7. Senior Tony Milo allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings in the losing effort, bringing his record to 1-2 on the season.

On Saturday, the Wildcats dug themselves into a giant hole. Down 19-0 in the sixth inning, the Wildcats rallied behind two home runs from sophomore rightfielder Shelley Duncan. Despite a 12-3 run late in the game, Arizona eventually lost, 22-12.

Nevada shortstop Matt Maguire led all Wolfpack hitters with five RBI, while Duncan paced the Wildcats with six.

Six Wolfpack hitters had three hits or more in the Nevada win.

In order to salvage the weekend series and avoid a sweep, the Wildcats needed a victory in yesterday's game.

Arizona got just that, defeating the Wolfpack 9-3.

UA's Brian Pemble took the job to task, winning his third game of the season.

The left-handed sophomore paced the Wildcats, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Pemble set personal records in strikeouts (8) and innings worked (7) in the outing.

"I felt good," he said. "After losing the first two games, we needed this one. We played well in all categories. I had a large strike zone. It was a pitcher's dream."

Stitt agreed.

"Brian was throwing strikes and staying ahead," he said. "I wish all (umpires) called it like they called it today. That's the way a game should be called."

Duncan homered twice for the second straight day, becoming only the third Wildcat to accomplish such a feat. He finished the weekend with nine RBI.

The Wildcats head to Texas on Wednesday for one game against Texas A&M at Corpus Christi. Arizona will stay in Texas for a three-game weekend series in College Station against Texas A&M.

For Stitt, the trip couldn't have come at a better time.

"We need to go on the road," he said. "Texas A&M is an interesting place to play, definitely one of the roughest. The fans are all over you."