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Arizona Frosh Donald Wallops Three-Run Blast

Feb. 13, 2004

TUCSON, Ariz.- Freshman Jason Donald made the most of baseball's redemptive qualities as the No. 15-ranked Wildcats (4-0) rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat No. 8 Cal State Fullerton (3-4), 11-8, on Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium on Friday.

     After committing a costly error on a potential double play ball that helped lead to four Titan runs in the top of the second inning, Donald bounced back at the plate with a two-run single in UA's five-run second and a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to more than make up for his fielding miscue. The first year Wildcat led Arizona's fourth come-from-behind victory of the season with a 3-5, three-run and five-RBI day at the plate. The Titans jumped out to an early three-run advantage off of Arizona starter Koley Kolberg in the top of the first on a Kurt Suzuki single that scored P.J. Pilittere and a two-run double off the bat of Danny Dorn that plated Sergio Pedroza and Pilittere.

     Aided by Donald's fielding gaff, Fullerton stretched the lead to seven with the four runs in the second on just a pair of hits. Neil Walton got things started by leading off the inning with a single to right. Justin Turner then drew a walk and Kolberg plunked Brett Pill to load the bases with no outs.

      Ronnie Prettyman followed with what appeared to be a potential double play ball hit at Donald. The ball eluded the infielder's glove for an RBI fielder's choice and error. Pilittere and Pedroza capitalized on the miscue with a sac-fly and a two-run double, respectively, in the ensuing at bats.

      Down 7-0 in just one and half innings, the Wildcats charged back with five runs on three hits in the bottom of the third to cut the Titan advantage to just two runs.

      Freshman DJ Lewis put Arizona on the scored board with a one-out solo home run. The blast over the left field wall came in Lewis' first official at bat in an Arizona uniform. A strikeout by Zach Bies and a pair of walks to Richard Mercado and John Hardy brought up Brad Boyer and the top of the UA order with two outs.

    CSF starter Ryan Schreppel (2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) appeared to have limited the damage in the inning to just Lewis' homer as he struck out Boyer swinging. However the third strike squirted away from catcher Suzuki, allowing Boyer to reach first and load the bases on an inning-saving passed ball.

       Just a half-inning removed from his error; Donald got his first shot at redemption with a two-run single that plated Mercado and Hardy. Jeff Van Houten finished off the scoring with two more runs on his first triple of the season in the next at bat.

      Fullerton added it eighth and final run on a RBI ground out by Sergio Garcia that stretched the Titan lead to three.

      The Wildcats, who saw just two runners reach base in the third through sixth innings, regrouped to tie the game on three hits in the bottom of the seventh. Highlighted by a two-run single by Derek Decater, Titan Vinnie Pestano helped the Arizona cause with a one-out wild pitch that allowed Van Houten to scamper home to notch the game at 8-8.

      Pat Reilly led off of the bottom of the game-turning eighth with a single through the right side of the infield and moved to second on Hardy's sacrifice bunt. A full-count walk to Boyer placed runners on first and second for Donald, who proceeded to launch his second career home run over the wall in left center for three RBI to cap off UA's comeback.

      Freshman Mark Melancon (2-0) held the Titan bats in check on just two hits over the final three innings in relief of Kolberg to pick up his second win of the season. CSF's Pestano (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run on one hit in 2/3 of an inning.

      The Wildcats and Titans will meet up for game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 4 pm. Fans that attend UA's 1 pm basketball game against UCLA can get into the baseball game for free by showing their ticket stub from the game against the Bruins.

Notes: Jeff Van Houten bounced back from his slow start against UC Riverside last weekend with a 2 for 3, two-RBI day at the plate on Friday ... Junior John Hardy finished the game 2 for 2 with a pair of runs scored ... Arizona has had to come from behind in all four of its wins so far this season ... The Wildcats committed a season-high four errors ... UA head coach Andy Lopez was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Terry Mann in the bottom of the third inning after DJ Lewis was ruled out on an interference call at second base.