By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The Arizona baseball team (15-19-1 overall, 3-8 in the Pacific 10 Conference South) broke from the norm in Saturday's win over 10th-ranked Southern Cal (18-13, 4-7) in Los Angeles. The Wildcats, a team known more for its short game than for hitting long balls, used home runs from Jeff Gjerde and Scott Kidd to defeat the Trojans 8-6.
With the victory, UA coach Jerry Kindall became the all-time winningest coach in Arizona history. His 832 victories surpassed Frank Sancet's record of 831.
The win also snapped the UA's five-game losing streak, as well as an eight-game losing streak to the Trojans that dated back to 1993.
The Wildcats jumped ahead in the first inning when Gjerde hit a grand slam. The base clearer was his fourth home run of the year.
The Wildcats broke a 5-5 tie with a three-run fourth inning that was highlighted by Kidd's third
homer of the year, a solo shot off Trojan reliever Brian Ponchak. Ponchak took the loss and fell to 0-3.
Zach Pringle (1-1) got the win in relief of Shawn Barrington. Pringle pitched eight innings, scattering eight hits and allowing just two runs.
The win gave the Wildcats 15 wins. The UA won 15 games all of last year, its 15th coming May 21 Ä the last day of the season.
Randy Flores upped his record to 5-2 with USC's 7-3 win Friday night. Flores went 8 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. The offense gave Flores a lift in the form of a 17-hit barrage. Jason Garner closed the game to earn his sixth save of the year. Kirt Kishita (1-2) took the loss for the Wildcats.
The two teams played the rubber game late yesterday. Results were unavailable at press time.