TUCSON, Ariz.--- It was an electric start to the first annual Wild vs. Cats Fall World Series on Friday, as the two sides kept it close throughout, but in the end Team Wild edged out Team Cats 39-21 in game one on Friday out at Hi Corbett Field according to Arizona baseball's fall scoring system. Team Wild was also awarded five points for claiming the win, meaning it'll take a 44-21 advantage into tomorrow's game two.
The overall point system will be a running total all series long, similar to soccer with the aggregate scoring system, making every game important. In traditional baseball terms, Team Wild defeated Team Cats 11-7.
Both starting pitchers put together solid outings to set the tone for their respective clubs, but it was Team Wild starter Cameron Ming who really stole the show. The sophomore left-hander had a perfect game going through 5.1 innings, before eventually running into some trouble. Ming ended up surrendering two runs on just two hits, while striking out three in 5.2 innings pitched.
Team Cats starter and co-captain Nathan Bannister did his best to keep his squad in contention, as he gave up just two earned runs, while scattering seven hits and collecting three punch outs in five innings pitched. Neither Ming nor Bannister allowed a walk on the afternoon.
On the offensive end, it was freshman outfielder Alfonso Rivas who led the way, as he collected a game-high four hits, going 4-of-5 from the dish, while collecting a game-high four RBI and scoring a run for Team Wild.
Sophomore first baseman JJ Matijevic and senior outfielder/co-captain Zach Gibbons also did their part on the offensive end, combining to go 6-of-11 from the plate, scoring four runs and driving in three. Each player manufactured three knocks a piece, while senior outfielder Justin Behnke contributed with two hits and three runs. Seven of eight Wild batters collected at least one hit on the afternoon.
Team Cats were led offensively by senior outfielder Ryan Aguilar, as he went 3-of-5 from the plate in the cleanup spot, while he drove in a pair of runs. Senior and co-captain Cody Ramer also put together a multi-hit performance, going 2-of-5 at the plate, driving in two runs, and scoring three. The three runs scored equaled a game high.
The series will resume tomorrow with game two at 5 pm MST out at Hi Corbett Field.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE/ STATISTICS
TEAM WILD
Hitting
| |
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
|
Boyd
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
|
Behnke
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
Gibbons
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
Matijevic
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
Rivas
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Gieseke
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
|
Lewis
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
|
Hoard
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
Pitching
| |
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
SO
|
HB
|
|
|
Ming
|
5.2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
|
|
Earman
|
0.1
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Gomez
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Talley
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
|
TEAM CATS
Hitting
| |
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
Boyd
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
Behnke
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
Gibbons
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Matijevic
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
|
Rivas
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
|
Gieseke
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Lewis
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Hoard
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
Pitching
| |
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
SO
|
HB
|
|
Ming
|
5.2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
|
Earman
|
0.1
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Gomez
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Talley
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
Follow the Cats!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics), Twitter (@AZATHLETICS), Instagram (azathletics) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/ArizonaAthletics). In addition, the baseball team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaBaseball), Twitter (@ArizonaBaseball), and Instagram (ArizonaBaseball) accounts.
