College baseball: Gilbert RBI single in 10th lifts Arizona past St. John’s

Tucson, AZ, United States (AHN Sports) – Second baseman Trent Gilbert delivered a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning to complete the Arizona Wildcats’ amazing comeback from a five-run deficit and carry them to a 7-6 victory over the St. John’s Red Storm Friday in Game 1 of the Tucson Super Regional at Hi Corbett Field.

After two missed swings, Gilbert lined a 1-2 fastball from James Lomangino to right-center field to cap Arizona’s rally from a 5-0 hole in the fourth inning.

Earlier, Bobby Brown hit an RBI single against Kevin Kilpatrick that brought Robert Refsnyder home and tied the count at 6.

The Wildcats have the chance to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 2004 with a victory on Saturday.

The top eight teams from the Super Regional will advance to the College World Series, which will be played June 15-26 at the TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

Kurt Heyer pitched nine innings for the Wildcats, throwing 127 pitches. He allowed 17 hits, six runs and walked none with four strikeouts.

Mathew Troupe (4-1) took over after Heyer left in the ninth inning with St. John’s leading, 6-5, and held the Red Storm to just one hit the rest of the frame for the win.

Kilpatrick (3-3) absorbed the loss after giving up the game-tying run to Brown.

Meanwhile, rain suspended the opening game of the best-of-three Baton Rouge Super Regional between Louisiana State University and Stony Brook, with the game tied at 4 in the 11th inning at Alex Box Stadium.

Game 1 will resume Saturday and Game 2 will start 50 minutes after the first game finishes.

The LSU Tigers hit home runs in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings to stay alive after trailing for most of the game.

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