Arizona Baseball: Wildcats split mid-week series at Long Beach State

Arizona went to Long Beach this week for its first and only non-conference road games of the year. They came away with one win and one loss during the short, mid-week series.

The first game of the series was suspended Tuesday night in the bottom of the 8th inning as Long Beach was hit by the monster storm that has now slammed Arizona with some very rare snow.

Tuesday night's game was restarted Wednesday afternoon, with Long Beach up 5-4, with two runners on base, and a 2-1 count to the Dirtbags' Michael Hill. Arizona freshman pitcher Cody Moffett came in to finish the inning, needing just two pitches to strike out Hill.

Arizona (4-1) failed to score in the top of the 9th, dropping game one 5-4.

Game 2 started immediately after the first game was finished on Wednesday, and Arizona came out firing, scoring 3 runs in the first 4 innings. Long Beach State (2-3) also managed to plate one in the first off of Arizona pitcher Tyler Crawford (1-0).

Crawford lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up just that one run on four hits. Stephen Mantei and Matthew Troupe (S, 2) went 1 2/3 innings each, closing out the win for Arizona. Long Beach did manage to put runners on base throughout the game, but went 0-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 13 Dirtbags for the game.

Arizona's offense in the second game was led by freshmen Ryan Koziol (2-4, 2 RBI), Kevin Newman (2-3, 2 runs, 2 SBs) and Scott Kingery (1-3, 1 run).

Game one saw Brandon Dixon go 3-4, and Kingery go 2-5. Nick Cunningham (0-1) took the loss for the Cats.

Game one was the first time Arizona has trailed in a game since the 2012 Super Regional against St. John's, and the first time they had lost a game since the final regular season series of 2012 against Arizona State.

The Wildcats return to Tucson and Hi Corbett Field this weekend, taking on San Jose State Friday at 6 PM, Saturday at 4 PM and Sunday at noon.