Wildcats Open Series With 3-1 Victory

Friday, May 22

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-40, 4-21

Arizona

28-25, 11-14

Arizona

Oregon Ducks

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

05/23/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? Arizona's Preston Guilmet dealt 12 strikeouts and appeared to get stronger as the game went on, leading the Wildcats to a 3-1 series-opening victory over Oregon on Friday afternoon at PK Park.

Oregon's ace, right-hander Erik Stavert (5-6), tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts of his own in eight innings on the mound, but Arizona rallied from an early one-run deficit, scoring all three of its runs in two-out situations.

The Ducks (14-40, 4-21) took the game's first lead after getting the leadoff runner on to start the second by way of Danny Pulfer's single down the right field line. Sean Potkay's sacrifice bunt moved Pulfer into scoring position and set the table for Kenny Bartz. The starting center fielder laced his third triple in as many games into the right center gap to bring home Pulfer for Oregon's 1-0 lead.

Guilmet was tagged for four hits in the first two innings, the senior settled down, retiring the side in order through the next four innings. He surrendered a two-out double in the seventh and two singles in the eighth, before being relieved by right-hander Cory Burns.

Burns struck out Eddy Rodriguez with two runners on to end the eighth inning and keep the Wildcats' 3-1 advantage intact.

Guilmet (6-5) finished his day tossing 7 and 2/3 innings and allowing one run on seven hits while striking out 12.

Offensively, Arizona (28-25, 11-14) did all of its damage with two outs on the scoreboard. The Wildcats took a 2-1 advantage in the top of third as Jett Bandy hammered a two-out, two-run double to the right center gap, scoring Bryce Ortega and Dillon Baird.

The Wildcats built their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when Steve Selsky sent a two-out solo home run over the wall in left.

Stavert went eight innings on the mound for the fourth time this season, allowing just three runs on six hits.

Jason Stoffel earned the save for the Wildcats, his 10^th of the season, after recording the final two outs of the game.

The Ducks stranded eight runners during the game and struck out a season-high 15 times.

Notes: Kenny Bartz has tripled in his last three games...Oregon is now on an 11-game losing streak...Antony Kreitz has reached safely in his last 11 games with an at-bat.