Nick Quintana’s power surge continued Tuesday and the Arizona Wildcats picked up their third straight victory with a 16-1 rout of GCU in Phoenix.
Quintana launched two homers which were his fifth and sixth in the last seven games. In all, the UA third baseman was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
It was Quintana’s first career multi-homer game.
The sophomore spearheaded an Arizona offense that bashed 15 hits.
Catcher Cesar Salazar and first baseman Alfonso Rivas each had three hits and three RBIs. Centerfielder Cal Stevenson was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Rightfielder Matt Frazier was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Shortstop Jacob Blas was 1-for-3 with a two-run single.
Quintana belted a three-run homer in the first, and Arizona eventually ballooned its lead to 10-0 by the third.
Arizona then added a run in the sixth, three in the eighth, and two in the ninth.
Juan Aguilera (4-0) tossed five innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and striking out four. Jonathan Guardado pitched three scoreless innings in relief, and Ryan Gowens pitched one.
Arizona (20-11, 4-5 Pac-12) entered Tuesday’s game with an RPI of 52 and it now sits at 43, putting it in a good spot for the postseason.
The Wildcats got a huge boost this past weekend when they took two of three from the then-No. 4 Oregon State Beavers.
Arizona returns to action Friday when it begins a three-game series against USC in Los Angeles.