Arizona is still trying to figure out its offense, though progress is starting to be seen. And with the kind of pitching performances it got the last two days it can afford to remain patient with the hitting.
Luc Fladda tossed seven scoreless innings, striking out a career-high nine batters to lead the Wildcats to a 7-1 win over UC Irvine on Sunday afternoon in the Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic. The UA went 2-1 in the tournament, winning the last two for its first win streak of the season.
Fladda,
a left-handed transfer from Tulane, allowed four singles and hit a batter, stranding two each in the 1st and 5th innings. He threw 96 pitches, 67 for strikes, topping Smith Bailey’s 6-inning performance from Saturday’s 5-1 win over Vanderbilt.
At the plate, Arizona got 10 hits and matched its season high for runs. Redshirt freshman Nate Novitske was once again a catalyst, going 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI for his third consecutive 3-hit game, while true freshman Caleb Danzeisen had two hits and three runs scored from the leadoff spot.
The UA manufactured a run in the 1st, then scored three in the 2nd and 5th innings. The first burst included an RBI triple from Danzeisen, while in the 5th Carson McEntire hit a 2-run home run for his second home of the season.
Arizona plays its next four games at Hi Corbett Field in the final week before Big 12 play, hosting Grand Canyon on Tuesday before a 3-game weekend series with Fresno State.
