March 12, 1999
TUCSON, Ariz. - Senior second baseman Andy Juday's two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning helped Arizona overcome a 4-3 deficit and led the Cats to a 6-4 win over UCLA here Friday night in the Pac-10 opener for both schools.
Arizona improved to 17-8, while UCLA fell to 14-14.
The Cats jumped on Bruin right-hander Jon Brandt (5-2) in the first as the first three Cats in the lineup hit safely and eventually scored. UCLA fought back with four runs in the middle three innings to take the lead. Junior right fielder Brian Baron, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, gave UCLA a 4-3 advantage with a two-out single in sixth. Sophomore left fielder Bill Scott also extended his hitting streak to 16 for the Bruins.
But the Cats, who managed just one hit over five innings from the second through sixth off Brandt, rallied to take the lead in the seventh. Juday's hit came off sophomore lefty reliever Bobby Roe.
Freshman righty Ben Diggins came on in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs with Arizona leading by just one run. He struck out Scott to end the Bruin threat then retired UCLA in the ninth to earn his second save. Junior right-hander Josh Pearce (4-1) threw 143 pitches over 7.2 innings to earn the win.
UCLA out-hit Arizona, 14-8, but left 14 men on base.
Arizona's junior center fielder Rafell Jones hit in his 15th consecutive contest.
The two teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sancet Field.
UCLA 000 121 000 - 4 14 2 Arizona 300 000 21x - 6 8 0Brandt, Roe (7) and Green; Pearce, Diggins (8) and Anderson. W-Pearce, 4-1. L-Brandt, 5-2. Sv-Diggins (2).