Arizona hadn’t dropped three consecutive games since going 0-3 to start the season at the College Shriners Children’s Showdown in February.
Friday night’s 8-6 loss to Utah marked the second time.
It was a tough start for Walden Grove alum Owen Kramkowski and the Wildcats. Three hits, three runs, all earned, in the first inning set the stage for the Big 12 last-place Utes’ win against Arizona (33-16, 15-10 Big 12).
“He just didn’t have it,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said of Kramkowski. “We knew going in this is a very veteran team. I don’t know why their record is what it is in league, but they played great out of league. They could hit.”
Kramkowski, who made his second Friday night start on the season, pitched four innings, giving up seven hits and seven runs (five earned) before getting pulled in the fifth inning.
Utah’s final run of the game came in the top of the ninth against Matthew Martinez.
Utah (19-25, 6-19) starter Colton McAnelly stymied Arizona’s offense and earned the win, giving up four hits, walking five and striking out five in seven innings.
“He out-pitched our hitters; we just didn’t have a good game.” Hale said.
One of those hits came in the third inning, a three-run homer over the intimidator in right field by Salpointe alum Mason White, his first of two in the game and his 200th hit of his career.
White’s second three-run home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning off a fastball that hit the center field wall, just above the home run line.
“Just fast balls down the middle; they throw ’em and I gotta hit ’em so that’s about it.” White said on his two home runs.
The two home runs, the 39th and 40th of White’s Arizona career, elevated him over Chase Davis for third place on the Arizona career home run list.
Utah center fielder Drake Digiorno robbed Maddox Mihalakis of a solo home run in the sixth inning when he skied to snatch the ball just before it hit the wall.
“We really want to host (the NCAA regionals), and to host, you’ve got to win a lot of baseball games,” said White. “We’re still on a mission to do that.”
Arizona and Utah will play in the second game at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Hi Corbett Field.
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