PULLMAN, Wash. – Sophomore Tyler Crawford pitched Arizona’s first complete game of the season, and a balanced offense led the Wildcats to a pair of big innings in a series-clinching 7-3 victory over Washington State on a cold Sunday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field.
Arizona (23-12, 8-7 Pac-12) scored three times in the first inning before breaking a 3-3 tie with four runs in the sixth. Washington State (18-15, 5-7 Pac-12) came out swinging aggressively with a three-run second inning and had collected six hits over the first two frames.
Despite the shaky start, Crawford (W, 4-1) dominated after the second inning. The lefty turned in his first career complete game, scattering nine hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts. He allowed only three hits over the final six innings.
Crawford needed only 85 pitches in the game, including only 41 over the final six innings. He was so strong over a four-inning stretch from the third through seventh innings that he faced the minimum number of hitters. A hit batsmen in the third was erased on a double play, and a single in the fifth was later eliminated when P.J. Jones was caught stealing.
Offensively, timely hitting proved valuable up and down the order for the Wildcats. Seven players accounted for each of Arizona’s seven runs, while five Wildcats had an RBI, led by Riley Moore’s two.
Arizona broke open a 3-3 tie with a four-run sixth inning. Kevin Newman, whow as 2-for5, led off with a single and moved around to third on a perfectly executed slash-and-run single through the left side by Moore. Scott Kingery, a fourth-inning defensive replaced, dropped down a safety squeeze bunt, and Newman slid in safely under the tag at the plate.
One out later, Joseph Maggi looped a double down the right-field line to drive in a second run and leave a pair of runners in scoring position. Johnny Field lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that advanced both runners and gave the Wildcats a three-run cushion.
The Cougars went to the bullpen and brought in lefty Jason Monda to face Trent Gilbert, who lined his third hit of the game into left field to score Maggi.
The Wildcats jumped on Cougars’ starter Scott Simon for three runs in the first inning. Field, who has reached base in 22-straight games, drew a leadoff walk and moved around to third base on Gilbert’s single. Brandon Dixon drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, and Riley Moore later delivered a two-run, tow-out double.
Simon (L, 3-1), the reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, suffered his first loss of the season. The right-hander was charged with seven runs allowed over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out four.
The Cougars tied the game with a three-run inning of their own in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back singles by Brett Jacobs and Patrick McGrath set up Matt Mendenall’s sacrifice bunt, which put runners on the corners. Trace Tam Sing drew a bases-loaded walk, before Trek Stemp hit a two-run single to center. P.J. Jones’ two-out, run-scoring single up the middle tied the game.
Arizona will return home for a single nonconference game against Arizona State on Tuesday. First pitch at Hi Corbett Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
