After Arizona broke out for 13 runs and 15 hits earlier this week, Wildcats coach Jay Johnson proclaimed that his team had rediscovered its identity.
That declaration only would hold true if Arizona kept it going.
“Consistency is the whole deal in baseball — in approach, attitude, concentration and effort,” Johnson said. “We want to stack a bunch of good days together.”
The Wildcats made it two in a row Friday. Arizona defeated North Dakota State 13-3 in the opener of a three-game series at Hi Corbett Field. The UA’s two-game win streak comes on the heels of a three-game skid and came at the expense of former Wildcat Tod Brown, the 11th-year coach of the Bison.
“We have a very clear plan of what we are and what we need to play to,” Johnson said afterward. “It’s two games in a row they’ve done it. We’ve got to keep after it.”
Arizona (7-6) had 17 hits, establishing a new season high for the second straight game. Every member of the starting lineup had at least one. Alfonso Rivas III and Cameron Cannon each had three. Cannon had a team-high three RBIs, two coming on a triple in the six-run second inning.
“I think we’re on to something,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them play to that a little bit more.”
The offensive outburst was more than enough for starter Cody Deason, who dominated after a shaky start. Deason allowed two runs in the top of the first. After a visit from Johnson, Deason faced the minimum the rest of the way. His final line: seven innings, two hits (both in the first), one earned run, one walk and a career-high nine strikeouts.
“First inning, for about three games now, seems to have been a little bit of a struggle for me,” said Deason, who improved to 2-0. “As soon as I get out of the first inning … I seem to be more competitive and figure it out.
“I felt great tonight and definitely found that groove.”
About two hours before the first pitch, Brown chatted with a visitor about his return to Tucson. Brown played at Sabino High School before joining his hometown school for the tail end of the Jerry Kindall era.
Asked what he remembers most about his time at Arizona, Brown fought back tears.
“Oh man … it’s emotional,” he said. “I just love this place. It’s an honor just to be back here. It was an honor to be able to play at this program.”
Brown, a left-handed pitcher, played for the Wildcats from 1992-94. He appeared in a then-school-record 35 games in 1993, recording a team-best 3.90 ERA and a team-high eight saves.
He learned a lot about baseball – and life – from Kindall, who died in December. Brown applies those lessons daily.
“Off the field, do the right thing all the time. It’s a simple as that,” Brown said. “And then on the field, it’s just straight fundamentals.”
Brown began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Arizona under Kindall’s successor, Jerry Stitt. Brown then served as the top assistant at Bowling Green for eight seasons before taking the NDSU job.
What kind of shape was the program in when Brown took over?
“Ooh, rough,” Brown said. “I tell everybody, ‘It was such a rough job, I got it.’ ”
The Bison moved from Division II to Division I in baseball in 2005 and averaged 12.7 wins in the three seasons preceding Brown’s arrival. They averaged 24.6 in his first 10 years in charge. NDSU won a school-record 40 games in 2012, including the school’s lone victory over Arizona in eight tries entering Friday. The Wildcats would go on to win the College World Series.
“Those were two pretty good teams going at it,” Brown said. “It was pretty special to see that team up close and personal.”
Brown and his family make it home about once a year. Wife Janet also attended Sabino and the UA. Brown’s parents still live in the house where he grew up. Brown expected 15-20 friends and family members to come out and see his team play this weekend.
Because of the weather in Fargo, the Bison play their first 25 games on the road. They were the opponents for the Wildcats’ first series at Hi Corbett Field in 2012. Brown had mixed feelings about his alma mater’s move off campus. It’s been a boon for the program.
The Wildcats are 6-0 at home this year and 53-14 at Hi Corbett under Johnson.
Inside pitch
- Arizona’s Nick Quintana went 2 for 3 and has a five-game hitting streak.
- UA catcher Cesar Salazar (2 for 3, two RBIs) has reached base in all 13 games.
- Deason’s nine strikeouts were the most by a Wildcat since Bobby Dalbec had 12 in the College World Series against Oklahoma State on June 20, 2016. Deason has pitched seven innings in three of his four starts.
- UA right-hander Michael Flynn (1-0, 3.75 ERA) will face lefty Blake Stockert (1-0, 0.00) in Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday.
