TUCSON, Ariz. – Johnny Field homered and Brandon Dixon had a career-high five hits to lead a relentless offensive attack that scored in every inning for Arizona, which routed Alabama State 18-3 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona (28-14) won for the 10th straight time in its home ballpark, doing so with season highs in runs scored (18), total base hits (22) and extra-base hits (eight). Seven Wildcats had multi-hit games, while 10 different players scored a run.
The scoring opened in the bottom of the first inning when Trent Gilbert doubled and scored on Dixon’s first of three doubles. After Dixon stole his 28th base of the season, he scored from third on a safety squeeze bunt by Zach Gibbons to give the Wildcats the early 2-0 lead.
With a run already on the board in the second inning, Field roped a two-run home run to left field, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
The five runs over 1 1/3 innings prompted a quick exit for Hornets starter Matt Burnside (L, 1-3), who gave way to five relievers the rest of the way.
The Wildcats scored five more times in the third inning to take a commanding 10-0 lead. Joseph Maggi, who finished 3-for-3 drove in two of his career-high four runs with a single, and Gilbert later tallied a two-run single of his own to increase his season total to 44 runs batted in -- most for any Pac-12 player.
Trailing 11-0 in the fifth, Alabama State (27-22) got on the board after starter Tyler Crawford (W, 5-1) surrendered a leadoff walk and back-to-back walks to lead the bases. Marcus Swint’s sacrifice fly spoiled Crawford’s shutout bid.
The Hornets tacked on two more runs against Crawford in the sixth, but that was all the scoring they could muster. Crawford earned the victory after giving up the three runs on six hits and three walks over six complete innings.
Freshman Cody Moffett tossed three hitless innings with just one walk allowed to finish the game. Moffett, who had a pair of strikeouts, earned a three-inning save – the first of his career.
Leading 15-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, Arizona scored three more times to ensure it a run in all eight innings it came to bat. Dixon, who finished 5-for-6, ripped his third double of the game to drive in David Lopez. Gibbons followed with an RBI triple to right field and then scored on Cody Ramer’s RBI double.
The 15-run margin of victory was the second largest of the season for Arizona, which has now won 13 of its last 16 games overall.
The 18 runs scored set a new season high for the Wildcats, whose
previous single-game high was 16 in the opener against Coppin State on
Feb. 15. The 22 base hits were their most in a game since
collecting 23 against Louisville on June 2, 2012, at the Tucson Regional.
