OMAHA, Neb. — Konner Wade threw a complete-game shutout, and the Arizona Wildcats moved one step closer to a national championship in tonight's 4-0 win over UCLA at TD Ameritrade Park.
Now, they'll play the waiting game. The win in front of 19,198 fans means Arizona won't have to play again until Thursday night. They'll face the winner of Tuesday's elimination game between UCLA and Florida State. The Seminoles defeated underdog Stony Brook earlier Sunday to stay alive.
Wade (10-3) was masterful, scattering five hits over nine innings; two of them were infield singles. UCLA loaded the bases with three consecutive two-out singles in the fifth inning, but Wade got Kevin Williams to fly out to left field.
UCLA pinch-hitter Chris Keck singled with one out in the eighth, but was erased when Wade got Beau Amaral to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Arizona (45-17) scored all four of its runs, and raked five of its six hits, during a frantic bottom of the fourth. Johnny Field, Alex Mejia and Robert Refsnyder ripped singles off UCLA starter Nick Vander Tuig with one out. Seth Mejias-Brean followed with a two-run single to right-center field, and Bobby Brown ripped a two-run double down the right field line to make it 4-0. The runs stand as the most allowed in one inning by Vander Tuig all year.
He took the loss, falling to 10-4 this season. The Bruins fell to 48-15.
Read more in tomorrow's Arizona Daily Star.
Please Wait…