By Justin Spears / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Tied game. Two runners on. One out. Bottom of the 11th inning at Hi Corbett Field. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State are tied 9-9.Â
UA pinch hitter Donta Williams smacked a line drive into right field, which would've kept Nick Quintana, the runner at second base, at third, but ASU right fielder Trevor Hauver committed an error. Quintana was signaled home and the Wildcats completed the weekend series with a 10-9 win and most importantly, took back the throne of the Territorial Cup series.
For Saturday night being ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s senior day, it almost seemed scripted for the ending. The only way it would've been more fitting was if a senior made the crucial play to not only snag the win, but keep ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s hopes of a NCAA Tournament bid alive.
Quintana, sophomore third baseman, went 4 of 4 at the plate including two home runs, arguably his best hitting performance of the season.Â
So now what? UA has a 32-21 record, 12-15 in Pac-12 play, and is now sixth in the conference with an RPI of 47. Sweeping ASU would've helped ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s cause for a tournament bid, but fortunately for the Cats, they'll travel to Oregon next week with hopes of making a final case for postseason play. Â
Head coach Jay Johnson and Quintana spoke after ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s win, here's what they had to say.
