For the first time this season Arizona has dropped four consecutive games.
Arizona’s 13-5 loss to Utah (20-25, 7-19 Big 12) on Saturday night also marks the second time the Wildcats have lost a series in Hi Corbett Field this season. The first series loss was at the end of March to Baylor.
The four-game losing skid is not the type of streak a team fighting for a bye in the Big 12 Tournament wants headed into the final games of conference play with the first four teams earning a bye in the tournament.
The Wildcats (33-17, 15-11) are currently tied for fifth place with Kansas State with four conference games remaining. They are one game behind Kansas in the loss column. The Jayhawks are alone in fourth place.
“That team over there is playing for their life, and they’re playing their tails off.” Arizona coach Chip Hale said of last-place Utah fighting to make the Big 12 tournament.
Arizona’s pitchers, who have been playing well most of the season, had a disastrous night on the diamond.
Sophomore righty Collin McKinney got the start for the Wildcats. McKinney lasted 2 1/3 innings giving up one hit, three walks and he hit one batter.
Raul Garayzar took over, throwing four innings with no hits, but walked four and hit two Utes.
Garrett Hicks, Julian Tonghini and Carson Johnson combined for six more walks and nine runs with Johnson hitting another Ute batter.
The 13 walks were the most the Wildcats have allowed since 2020.
“Just not executing pitches,” Hale said. “Just poor on the mound tonight.”
Arizona’s offense looked to be back on track after the Wildcats scored first in the second inning off of a Tommy Splaine triple to right center that brought Andrew Cain home.
A two-run homer to center by Cain, an Ironwood Ridge grad, in the seventh brought the Wildcats to within two but the Utes scored four runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth to secure the win.
Garen Caulfield hit a solo home run. A throwing error by Utah added another run in the ninth before Mason White struck out to end the inning and the game.
“We’ve just got to win. Gotta play the best we can, have the best at-bats we can and execute pitches the best you can. Right now we’ve just got to give it whatever we can, the best we can, and hopefully it’s enough to win a game tomorrow.” Hale said.
Arizona will try to shut down a Utah sweep on Sunday at 12 p.m.
The Wildcats will honor their seven seniors prior to the start of Sunday’s game. Caulfield will not participate in the festivities because he was celebrated last year.
Recommended for you
