EUGENE - Arizona's Preston Guilmet dealt 12 strikeouts and appeared to get stronger as the game went on, leading the Wildcats to a

3-1 series-opening victory over Oregon on Friday afternoon at PK Park.

Oregon's ace, right-hander Erik Stavert (5-6), tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts of his own in eight innings on the mound, but Arizona rallied from an early one-run deficit, scoring all three of its runs in two-out situations.

The Ducks (14-40, 4-21) took the game's first lead after getting the leadoff runner on to start the second by way of Danny Pulfer's single down the right field line. Sean Potkay's sacrifice bunt moved Pulfer into scoring position and set the table for Kenny Bartz. The starting center fielder laced his third triple in as many games into the right center gap to bring home Pulfer for Oregon's 1-0 lead.

Guilmet was tagged for four hits in the first two innings, the senior settled down, retiring the side in order through the next four innings. He surrendered a two-out double in the seventh and two singles in the eighth, before being relieved by right-hander Cory Burns.

Burns struck out Eddy Rodriguez with two runners on to end the eighth inning and keep the Wildcats' 3-1 advantage intact.

Arizona (28-25, 11-14) did all of its damage with two outs on the scoreboard. The Wildcats took a 2-1 advantage in the top of third as Jett Bandy hammered a two-run double to the right center gap, scoring Bryce Ortega and Dillon Baird.

The Wildcats built their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when Steve Selsky sent a two-out solo home run over the wall in left.

Arizona 3, Oregon 1

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 002 001 000 - 3 6 0

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 010 000 000 - 1 7 1

Stavert, Keudell (9) and Karraker. Guilmet, Burns (8), Stoffel (9) and Childs. W: Guilmet (6-5). L: Stavert (5-6). S: Stoffel (10).

2B: Arizona, Bandy, Selsky. Oregon, Potkay. 3B: Oregon, Bartz. HR: Arizona, Selsky.

Hits: Arizona 6 (Ortega, Baird, Bandy, Coyle, Selsky 2). Oregon 7 (Raulinaitis 2, Serna, Kreitz, Pulfer, Potkay, Bartz.)

RBIs: Arizona 3 (Bandy 2, Selsky 1). Oregon 1 (Bartz).

Albany Democrat-Herald