Information from the Arizona media-relations department contributed to this report:
Arizona outlasted No. 4 Stanford in a 21-20 slugfest in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, Calif., in what amounts to one of the Wildcats’ most impressive and needed wins of the season to this point.
The 21 runs were a season-high for the Wildcats (27-22, 10-17). They also amassed 20 hits for the first time this season along with eight walks. Nine of the hits went for extra bases.
Arizona snapped a six-game road losing streak with the victory. The Wildcats play their last road game of the regular season Monday against Cal-Irvine at 6 p.m. on ESPN-Plus. They are 3-14 on the road this season.
The victory over Pac-12 first-place team Stanford (34-14, 20-7) was significant because it is a quality win on the road and it also puts Arizona at No. 9 in the conference standings. The top nine teams qualify for the Pac-12 tournament, which starts in two weeks at Scottsdale.
Arizona concludes its Pac-12 regular-season schedule with a pivotal three-game series against USC starting Thursday at 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.
The wild game Sunday with Stanford included five lead changes and two ties, one of which came with the Cardinal down to their final strike in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Stanford rallied from an 18-11 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth.
Arizona left fielder Chase Davis and first baseman Kiko Romero (CDO graduate) both homered and drove in six runs. Right fielder Emilio Corona, who was with Pima College last season, and second baseman Mason White (Salpointe) also hit home runs and drove in four runs apiece.
Davis is now tied for fourth in Arizona career home runs at 35 with Nick Quintana, who played with Arizona from 2017 to 2019. Shelley Duncan’s 55 home runs from 1999 to 2001 seem untouchable atop the list.
Romero’s six RBIs on Sunday gives him 74, one shy of the Arizona single-season Top 10. Ron Hassey has the record of 86 in 1974.
White posted the second five-hit performance by an Arizona batter this season, joining Mac Bingham (April 19 vs. Arizona State).
Nik McClaughry notched the Wildcats’ second five-run performance this season, joining Romero, who accomplished the feat March 10 against California. McClaughry reached base six times, three times with hits and three times by walking.
Arizona jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Stanford on a first-inning home run from Davis, 17th of the season and the 35th of his career.
Arizona starter Aiden May did not factor into the decision after his three innings of work.
Right-handed reliever Chris Barraza (Sahuarita) worked the final five outs of the game for the Wildcats and is now 4-2.
Arizona’s top hitters:
LF Chase Davis: 3-for-5, 4 R, 3B, HR, 6 RBIs, BB
1B Kiko Romero: 2-for-6, 2 R, HR, 6 RBIs
RF Emiliano Corona: 3-for-7, 3 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBIs
2B Mason White: 5-for-7, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBIs
SS Nik McClaughry: 3-for-4, 5 R, 2B, 3 BB
CF Mac Bingham: 2-for-6, 2 R, BB
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