TUCSON, Ariz. — Ryan Holgate had two hits, including a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give No. 5 overall seed Arizona some breathing room, and the Wildcats earned a berth in the Super Regionals by eliminating UC Santa Barbara 5-2 in the Tucson Regional on Sunday.
Arizona starter Chandler Murphy upped his record to 7-0 with the win, allowing one run while scattering seven hits in five innings. Five Wildcat relievers held the Gauchos (41-20) to three hits and an unearned run over the final four innings with Vince Vannelle getting the final three outs for his eighth save.
Arizona (43-15) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Tanner O’Tremba’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Nik McClaughry. Cole Cummings RBI single in the top of the fourth pulled UCSB within a run. Holgate’s homer stretched the Wildcats lead to 4-1. Nick Oakley scored on a wild pitch in the seventh for the Gauchos. McClaughry had an RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring for Arizona.
James Callahan (3-4) took the loss for UCSB, yielding four runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
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