Yovan homers again in Ducks loss
TUCSON, Ariz. – Kenyon Yovan homered in the first to give Oregon the lead but it was all Arizona from there in a 15-2 Wildcats' win on Saturday in Pac-12 Conference action.
After going 0-for-5 and striking out four times on Friday, Yovan jumped on the first pitch he saw on Saturday and hit it over the left-center field wall to give the Ducks an early 1-0 lead.
Arizona responded with a big day on offense. The Wildcats (16-6, 3-2 Pac-12) scored in five different innings, including five-run innings in the third and sixth and a three-run eighth inning to clinch the series over Oregon (11-6, 2-3 Pac-12)
How It Happened: Arizona tied the game with a run in the second and then took control with a five-run third inning. The Wildcats took advantage of some Oregon miscues in the big inning.
After Cullen Kafka (2-1) issued a leadoff walk, Arizona loaded the bases with a single, fielder's choice and a hit-by-pitch. Ryan Holgate then lined a one-ball, one-strike pitch into center field that Oregon's Robby Ashford misplayed, originally breaking in before having to retreat and see the ball barely clear his outstretched glove, allowing all three runners to score. Holgate ended up scoring on the play as well, after shortstop Josh Kasevich threw wild to third on the relay.
After an out, second baseman Gavin Grant committed an error that Arizona turned into a run on a Tanner O'Tremba triple giving Arizona a 6-1 lead.
Arizona added five more runs in the sixth pushing the lead to 10 runs. After a leadoff walk and a one-out hit, Donta Williams make it 7-1 with a RBI single. Branden Boissiere picked up two RBI with a one-out single and Daniel Susac added a two-out, two-run hit.
Arizona tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh before Oregon got back on the board in the eighth. Gabe Matthews reached on a one-out walk, moved to second on a fielder's choice and scored on a Kasevich RBI double. Arizona added three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Inside the Box Score: Yovan went 2-for-4 with his seventh home run of the season, a ninth-inning base hit and a walk … It was Yovan's seventh multi-hit game of the season (13 games played) … Aaron Zavala went 2-for-4 for his seventh multi-hit game of the season … Four Oregon pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts, the 10th double-digit strikeout game by the staff this season.
On Deck: Oregon will look to salvage a game in the series on Sunday at 12 p.m. Brett Walker (2-1, 3.48) will take the mound for the Ducks while the Wildcats will counter with TJ Nichols (3-0, 4.56).