
Arizona’s bats came alive just in time to avoid its first losing weekend of the season.
The Wildcats made the most of 12 hits and six walks in beating Air Force 14-5 on Sunday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field. The UA (12-4) went 2-2 over the weekend, splitting a pair with the Falcons after going 1-1 against Wichita State.
A night after recording a season-low four hits in a 5-2 loss to Air Force, Arizona scored three times in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded balk and a 2-run double by freshman Kaden Hopson. The Wildcats made it 4-0 in the third on an RBI groundout by Jacob Berry.
UA starter TJ Nichols was perfect through the first three innings, striking out five, but the freshman gave up four runs in the fourth before exiting in the fifth with seven strikeouts.
The UA retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Donta’ Williams scored on a wild pitch, plated five in the fifth to break things open on a 2-run single by Jacob Blas, a 2-run double from Mac Bingham and a Kobe Kato sacrifice fly.
Tony Bullard added a 2-run single in the sixth to make it 12-4, then Williams blasted a 2-run home run in the eighth.
Blas finished 3 for 5 with four runs scored and was one of five Wildcats with two RBI.
Preston Price got the win with 3.1 innings of relief, the only hit he allowed a solo homer in the seventh.
Arizona begins Pac-12 play on Friday at UCLA, the preseason favorite.
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