Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON, Ariz. - Lefty Tyler Crawford pitched eight strong innings and Johnny Field paced the offense with three hits and two runs as the 16th-ranked University of Arizona baseball team defeated visiting Texas Tech, 6-2, on Tuesday evening at Hi Corbett Field.

Crawford (W, 2-1) turned in the best outing of his young career with eight innings. The Glendale, Ariz., native allowed just two runs and scattered eight hits, while he set a career-high with five strikeouts. The sophomore did not issue a walk in the contest.

Field brushed off a recent slump with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, which included a pair of doubles. The junior's leadoff double in the fourth led set up a sacrifice fly by Trent Gilbert later in the inning to give the Wildcats a 2-1 edge - a lead they did not surrender.

Arizona (11-3) broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. Zach Gibbons, who was 2-for-4 at the plate, doubled to the gap in left-center and moved to third on Riley Moore's bunt single. With no outs and runners at the corners, Field reached on a two-base throwing error that allowed Gibbons to score.

After a pitching change, Brandon Dixon drove in a pair of runs with a double to left field. Dixon, who has reached base in all 14 games this season, eventually scored on Gilbert's second sacrifice fly of the game. Gilbert saw an eight-game hitting streak snapped, but the sophomore increased his season RBI total to 20, which leads all Pac-12 players.

The 6-1 lead after six innings was plenty of support for Crawford, who allowed only one more run the rest of the way.

After topping his previous career-long outing of 5.2 innings, Crawford handed the ball over to Mathew Troupe in the ninth. The right-hander allowed a walk, but retired the next three Red Raiders to end the game.

Texas Tech (7-6) received a solid outing from starter Jonny Drozd, who gave up just two runs on five hits through the first five innings. But in the sixth, the lefty was unable to prevent the big inning.

Drozd (L, 1-1) finished with five-plus innings pitched and five runs - four earned - allowed. He surrendered seven hits and did not walk a batter.

The two clubs wrap up the midweek series on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.

(Courtesy: Arizona Athletics)