Shut Out in Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona right-hander Clark Candiotti tossed a complete-game shutout to lead No. 21 Arizona (28-17, 16-7 Pac-12) to a 5-0 victory over Stanford (20-24, 11-12 Pac-12) on Saturday, clinching a three-game series victory for the Wildcats.

Candiotti scattered five Cardinal hits and did not walk a batter while striking out seven, improving to 5-2 with the victory. He faced the minimum through six innings, allowing just a single to Malcolm Moore leading off the second inning before inducing a double play.

Freshman Christian Lim was saddled with the loss and fell to 4-5 after surrendering three runs on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts over five innings. Sophomore Kassius Thomas worked the final three innings for the Cardinal, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out a pair.

Arizona scored twice in the first inning, highlighted by a Garen Caulfield RBI-double, and added one in the third to provide all the support Candiotti would ultimately need.

Both offenses went quiet in the middle innings, as Arizona's 3-0 cushion held all the way into the bottom of the eighth. Adding insurance, the Wildcats plated a pair of runs (one earned) in that frame to run the tally to the eventual final of 5-0.

Stanford did manage to put two runners aboard in the ninth on singles from Temo Becerra and Ethan Hott, but Candiotti retired the side and stranded two in scoring position to secure the shutout.

The Cardinal will look to salvage the series on Sunday when the two teams meet at 12 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

• Stanford has lost 18 of the last 30 overall … is 0-3 against Arizona this season.
• The Cardinal was shut out for the fourth time this season.
• Stanford's five hits are the second-fewest in a game this year.
• Temo Becerra (1-for-3) has hit safely in 16 of his last 23 games and 22 of his last 21 overall.
• Owen Cobb (1-for-4) has hit safely in 11 straight and 18 of his last 22 overall, managing multiple hits in 13 of those 22 contests.
• Trevor Haskins (1-for-3) has hit safely in 11 of his last 13, 20 of 23, and 24 of his last 30 games overall.