Cloney's marvelous outing earns Arizona CWS finals win

The University of Arizona Wildcats drew first blood at the College World Series Finals Monday thanks to an outstanding pitching performance from left-hander JC Cloney en route to a 3-0 victory.

Cloney tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits, walking three, and striking out six on 122 pitches.

The junior, who also pitched seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara and earned the victory in the first of three consecutive CWS elimination games Wednesday, out-pitched Coastal Carolina's Zach Hopeck and shut down the Chanticleers' dangerous top five in the batting order.

Arizona's offense came courtesy of the hot-hitting Zach Gibbons, as well as three-hole hitter Ryan Aguilar, who had two RBIs on the night.

Gibbons also supplied the game's best defensive play with a spectacular grab against the wall to keep his team's lead at 3-0.

The table-setter and leadoff hitter Cody Ramer also continued to get on base at an impressive clip, reaching safely four times for Arizona.

The two teams are set to square off once again Tuesday at 8 p.m ET, with Arizona having a chance to take home the fifth National title in school history.