The 11th-ranked Arizona baseball team set season highs for hits and runs scored Friday night in a 24-7 rout of East Tennessee State that earned the school its 2,600th all-time victory.
Arizona (27-13) is the eighth school in NCAA history to reach 2,600 wins. Junior Kurt Heyer, who was also the winning pitcher in the Wildcats’ 2,500th win in the 2010 season opener, earned the victory on the mound and improved to 8-1 on the season.
The story of the game, however, was the offense. There were seven combined triples in the contest, which matches an NCAA Division I record last set by Houston and McNeese State on March 25, 1992, and only achieved five times.
The Wildcats scored 24 runs on 25 hits, including 11 for extra bases, a total that fell one shy of the school record. The No. 1-5 hitters in the lineup went a combined 17 for 28 with 16 runs scored and 16 RBIs.
Leadoff man Johnny Field hit safely in his first four at-bats of the game en route to a career-best 5-for-6 night at the plate. He scored three runs and drove in four.
Shortstop Alex Mejia hit second in the order and collected two triples and a double as part of a three-hit night in which he scored twice and drove in four runs. Right fielder Robert Refsnyder hit third and scored three runs while driving in two.
Third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean delivered three hits in the contest and scored four runs in the cleanup spot, while designated hitter Bobby Brown hit fifth and did the most damage. The senior fell a home run short of the cycle but hit two triples and a double, scored four runs and added a career-best six RBIs.
The bottom of the order produced as well, with catcher Riley Moore collecting four RBIs on three hits in the six hole and left fielder Joseph Maggi scoring four times out of the No. 9 spot.
The nine starters for the Wildcats had all reached base by the end of the third inning. By the end of the fourth, all nine had a base hit and seven players had at least two hits. Also by the end of the fourth, UA had set new season highs in hits (20) and runs scored (17).
It was all plenty of support Heyer, who lacked the dominating form he had showcased in three straight complete games entering the night. Even so, Heyer registered nine strikeouts and allowed just one walk in 7 2/3 innings of work. He gave up six earned runs.
East Tennessee State (19-22) put together a 16-hit offensive attack and scored seven runs. Clinton Freeman led the Buccaneers with three hits and three RBIs.
Jake Long (2-6) suffered the loss after surrendering 11 runs on 14 hits in three-plus innings. Will Chesney and Will Carter gave up a combined 11 more runs before Zach Waters, who started at catcher, settled things down and gave up just two runs in the final three innings.
For the Wildcats, Lucas Long gave up a run in relief but pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to close out the game.
