March 6, 2011

TUCSON, Arizona -- Utah Valley jumped out to an early three-run lead at No. 17 Arizona but the Wildcats (9-2) scored eight runs over their final four innings to win 9-3 and complete a three-game sweep of the Wolverines (3-7).

After back-to-back walks to begin the game, Chris Benson singled to left to drive in Willie Pratt for the first run. Jason Zundel scored on a balk and Benson would come in on an RBI groundout by Billy Burgess to make it 3-0 UVU after the top half of the first.

Arizona came back with a run in the third when Bryce Ortega singled, stole second and then scored on a base hit by Joey Rickard, all after there were two outs and nobody on. Ortega was 3-for-3 with two doubles, four runs and two stolen bases on the day.

Cole Frenzel had a two-out single in the fifth that brought home two runs, tying the game at 3-3.

The Wildcats took the lead in the seventh when Jett Bandy's two-out base hit to center scored two and gave his team a 5-3 lead. Arizona put the game away in the eighth with four runs. All nine runs scored by the Wildcats came with two outs.

Benson, Kai Hatch and Austin Haws each had two hits for Utah Valley. Benson's two hits came in his first two at-bats, giving him hits in six consecutive trips to the plate after a 4-for-4 day on Saturday.

In addition to Ortega, Rickard and Frenzel had three hits apiece and drove in a combined five runs for Arizona.

Utah Valley will again face a Pac-10 school this coming week when the Wolverines travel to Pullman, Washington for a three-game series at Washington State.