TUCSON, Ariz. – Cody Deason struck out a career-high nine and Cameron Cannon and Alfonso Rivas each  added three hits to lift the Arizona Wildcats to a 13-3 win Friday night over North Dakota State at Hi Corbett Field in the opener of a three-game series.
 
Every Wildcat starter recorded at least one hit, as Arizona pounded out a season-high 17 hits and tied a season best in runs. Arizona also recorded six extra-base hits, which established a new season high.
 
On the flip side, Deason and the pitching staff allowed just three total hits, which marks a new season-low for hits allowed this year. Deason went seven innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run and one walk, while striking out a career-high nine. His nine strikeouts were the most by an Arizona pitcher since Bobby Dalbec punched out 12 in the second game of the 2016 College World Series versus Oklahoma State.
 
Arizona improved to 7-6 on the season and 6-0 at home this season.
 
After falling behind in an early hole for the second straight game, the Wildcats responded in a big way in the bottom of the second to pull ahead, much to the delight of the 2,831 fans at Hi Corbett.
 
Trailing 2-0, Nick Quintana singled through the left side to start off the inning. He moved to third when catcher Cesar Salazar doubled into the left-centerfield gap.
 
With two on and no outs, Cannon roped a triple to deep center to plate Quintana and Salazar and tie the game at two apiece. Cannon scored on the next pitch when Matt Fraizer lifted a sacrifice fly to center. With the bases empty, Travis Moniot restarted the action with a hustle double up the middle.
 
He scored one batter later when Mitchell Morimoto singled up the middle. Morimoto was thrown out at second, trying to get an extra base after centerfielder Alec Abercrombie fumbled the ball. Arizona still wasn't done, however. Cal Stevenson walked and moved up a base when Ryan Haug singled through the left side. They both scored one batter later when Rivas doubled to left field to make it a six-run inning and give Arizona a 6-2 lead.
 
That was more than enough for Deason, who was dominant after a rocky first inning saw him allow two runs. In the second, before the Cats got him a lead, the junior righty struck out the side. He retired the side in order in the third and fourth, as well. He struck out catcher Sean Noel to open the fifth, and then issued a walk to Abercrombie for North Dakota State's first base runner since the first inning.
 
But Deason quickly erased Abercrombie when he got ninth-place hitter Matt Eisenpeter to hit into a double play to end the inning. Deason then worked perfect innings in the sixth and seventh. He faced the minimum after giving up a two-run double in the first. All total, Deason went seven innings for the third time in four starts this season. He improved to 2-0 on the season and has an ERA of 1.03 on the young year.
 
The Cats gave Deason an extra run in the sixth when Haug singled home Stevenson to make it 7-2. Arizona kept pouring it on after Deason exited, scoring two more in the seventh. Cannon and Fraizer each had RBI singles in the inning.
 
Arizona then added four more in the eighth, courtesy of a bases loaded walk from Quintana, a two-run double from Salazar and another sacrifice fly from Fraizer. Senior right-hander Zach Stone then came on to pitch a perfect ninth and secure the victory for the Wildcats.
 
Cannon went 3 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored. Rivas had a three-hit night for the second straight game, going 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Salazar was 2 for 3 with two RBI and Haug was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Morimoto and Quintana each had two-hit nights in the game as well.
 
The Wildcats will look to win the series Saturday. Left-hander Blake Stockert will start for the Bison, while Arizona will counter with right-hander Michael Flynn. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.