The No. 24 Arizona baseball team got its bats started early on a windy Sunday afternoon, but couldn’t seem to keep the momentum going in the later innings in a 13-6 loss to TCU at Hi Corbett Field.
“This is a good team we played,” Arizona head coach Chip Hale said. “I’m super proud of our fans, a great crowd, the last few nights were unbelievable.”
TCU (33-15, 15-9 Big-12) took an early lead and built it larger after a mild comeback attempt by Arizona (33-14, 15-9 in Big-12 play).
With this loss, the Wildcats are now in a three-way tie for third place with TCU and No. 25 Kansas (36-13, 15-9). Arizona State (32-17, 16-8) — which beat Baylor on Sunday — is alone at second place behind No. 16 West Virginia (39-7, 18-4).
With two weeks left in the regular season, every game feels like a must-win situation.
The top four teams in the standings earn a bye in the Big 12 tournament.
“I think we just wanna win series,” Hale said. “We were happy to win this series. Obviously, we let this one get away. I’m proud of the guys. The way they battled. We gotta play our best baseball heading into the Big 12 tournament.”
Freshman Smith Bailey got the start in Sunday’s game and looked strong after the first inning, thanks to some help from his defense behind him.
Things started to stray away from Bailey at the top of the second inning. After two walks and an RBI double by Colton Griffin, it began to look like it was going to be a challenging game for the freshman.
The windy weather did not help the Wildcats’ bats either, as Aaron Walton could have possibly had two home runs on any other day with normal conditions.
“I think its frustrating for a lot of the guys. They hit some balls really well, too,” Hale said. “But again, we play in this every day. Today, it’s a little more out of the south (toward home plate). I think if it blows normally, both of those balls go out.”
Arizona was the first team to get on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
Maddox Mihalakis grounded out to second base, and Mason White, who tripled in the previous at-bat, scored on the fielder’s choice.
Adonys Guzman singled to center field on the next at-bat, but Garen Caulfield popped out for the final out of the inning.
TCU scored two runs in the top of the second inning and one more in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
Arizona managed to cut TCU’s lead to 3-2 after Mihalakis hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving Walton in with two outs in the bottom of the third.
TCU had two singles to lead off the fourth inning, prompting Hale to put Michael Hilker Jr. on the mound.
Karson Bowen then singled to center field, driving Anthony Silva in from third base, putting the Horned Frogs up 4-2.
After another scoreless inning by the Wildcats in the fourth, TCU scored five more runs in the fifth inning.
Hilker Jr.’s day on the mound was short-lived after the Horned Frogs scored their sixth run of the game, due to a single from Silva that drove Noah Franco and Chase Brunson home.
Matthew Martinez relieved Hilker Jr. and struggled to get through the top of the fifth inning.
Martinez got his first man out with a fly out to center field, but the next two batters drove in runners to increase the lead to 9-2.
Eventually, Martinez was able to get out of the inning without any further damage after Sawyer Strosnider flied out in center field.
The Wildcats cut into TCU’s lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a Tommy Splaine sacrifice fly that drove Guzman home, making it 9-3.
TCU put another run on the board in the top of the seventh inning with a Griffin double to left field that drove Sam Myers home.
Arizona rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with Dom Rodriguez hitting a single to center field and advancing to second base following a wild pitch.
Walton then flied out to center field, advancing Rodriguez to third base. White hit a sacrifice fly, driving Rodriguez to home plate,
Mihalakis hit a single down the third-base line. Guzman followed with a walk.
Both Mihalakis and Guzman advanced after a wild pitch. Walton then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Rodriguez, cutting the lead to 10-4.
Mihalakis laid down a bunt single and Guzman walked.
After a wild pitch, Mihalakis advanced to third and ran home on a throwing error, cutting the TCU lead to 10-5. Guzman advanced to second on the pitch and third on the throw.
Caulfield then singled up the middle to drive in Guzman, making it 10-6 before Meurant flied out to end the inning.
Eric Orloff came out of the bullpen in the eighth inning to pitch the remainder of the game.
TCU scored three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Bailey pitched three innings and allowed five hits and four runs with three walks and a strikeout.
Caulfield went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mihalakis was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. White finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run.
Guzman was 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks. Splaine went 1-for-2 with one RBI.
Arizona will next play a non-conference game at Grand Canyon on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats will resume Big 12 play with a home series against Utah starting Friday at 6 p.m.
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