May 9, 2009

Final Box Score | Arizona Overall Stats

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona senior Preston Guilmet pitched seven strong innings and outdueled previously undefeated Lee Roberts of Loyola Marymount, as the Wildcats trounced the visiting Lions, 12-2, on Saturday night at Jerry Kindall Field.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first and trailing by the single run heading to the home half of the third, the Wildcats (23-23) exploded for 12 runs over the next five innings.

The offensive outburst was more than enough for Guilmet, who allowed a lead off single and an RBI double later in the opening frame. But the right hander cruised over the next six innings, allowing just two hits the rest of the way while striking out six LMU hitters.

The win marks the third consecutive start in which Guilmet earned a victory, accomplishing the back-to-back-to-back feat for the first time since his sensational 2007 season when he was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year.

Dillon Baird, the Pac-10’s batting average leader, turned in a sensational 4-for-5 day at the plate that included a pair of doubles and three RBI, improving his season average to .429.

Second baseman Kyle Stiner nearly matched Baird’s performance, going 3-for-5 at the plate, including his first career triple. Stiner also collected three RBI.

Arizona jumped on top of the Lions in the third as Dwight Childs pulled a one-out double down the left field line and scored on batter later on Stiner’s triple. Stiner scored UA’s go-ahead run on a single by Baird later in the inning.

The Wildcats kept on the offensive in the fourth inning, as Stiner drove in two more runs with a single, extending UA’s lead to 4-1.

UA added two more runs in the fifth on Steve Selsky’s fifth home run of the season – a two run shot to left center field.

Arizona broke a string of two-run innings with three-run tallies in the sixth and seventh innings.

In the sixth, the Wildcats forced Roberts from the game. The LMU senior, who was 7-0 on the season entering the game, was lit up for eight runs – seven earned – on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

On the night, the Wildcats rapped out 18 hits, while the Lions (29-22) managed just six.

The two teams will continue the non-conference series won Sunday night at 7 p.m. at Jerry Kindall Field.