Arizona Baseball: Wildcats take down Alabama State Hornets behind a Konner Wade complete game

Alabama State starter T.J. Renda came in to Tucson 8-0.

He'll leave 8-1.

Konner Wade (W, 4-4) outlasted the Hornets' ace, getting his first complete game of the year, scattering 11 hits and giving up two runs.

"Glad to see him go a complete game and finish strong." said head coach Andy Lopez.

"I felt pretty good about it, the sixth and the seventh got a little bit sloppy" said Wade. "We went in a lot tonight, probably more than we've gone all year. I mean they got eleven hits, but a lot of those were balls that were going in and they got kind of jammed."

"A couple of them just kind of squeaked through."

The last couple of innings were the strongest of the night for Wade despite throwing 132 pitches on the night.

"I started locating better in the 8th and 9th then I was in the 6th and 7th. I don't think I was behind in the count the last two innings....I don't have to be as hard to the plate."

Wade was supported by timely hitting from the entire top of the order. Brandon Dixon's 3-run HR in the 3rd inning was the crushing blow for the Wildcats to put them up 5-0 early on Renda (L, 8-1).

Johnny Field continued his ridiculous streak of reaching base in 27 straight games.

"I just got a lot of good pitches to hit tonight" said Field, "I put a couple of good swings on them."

Field went 3-for-4 on the night, scored twice and drove in one. Two of his three hits were triples, which moves him into a tie for the lead in the nation with 7 this year. Since being moved to the lead-off spot in the lineup, he has reached base every game.

"I think I'm just getting some better pitches to hit. In the 3-hole I was getting more pitched around I think, so now as the leadoff guy they can't really afford to walk and put you on."

"Early in the year I was getting myself out a lot swinging at pitches that weren't my pitches. Now I'm trying to get my pitch and when I do get to just put a good swing on it."

Once again, defense was an issue for Arizona. Three more errors on the night. In fact, only one of Wade's two runs given up were earned. "A little sloppy on defense so that's something that we need to address." said Lopez.