The Mexican Baseball Fiesta opened its four-day run at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday with a doubleheader that included the new Tucson Baseball Team of the Mexican Pacific League and the University of Arizona playing in two different games.
The Tucson Baseball Team first played against the Yaquis de Obregón in a low-scoring seven-inning exhibition, losing 1-0.
Víctor Márquez scored the game’s lone run in what turned into a pitching and defensive battle, with both clubs stranding runners.
Dalton Rodriguez, a 29-year-old right-hander with a background in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, was the starting pitcher for Tucson.
First preseason game at home
Here’s the lineup our manager Willie Romero is rolling with to take on the @yaquis_oficial
LET’S GO, TUCSON! ⚾️#MakeItYours pic.twitter.com/RxjRUgi4TI
— Tucson Baseball Team (@tucsonbt) October 2, 2025
The nightcap between Arizona and the Naranjeros de Hermosillo was a big difference, ending in a 16-6 Wildcats win.
Arizona scored its first run on a wild pitch that brought in second baseman Tyler Bickers after he tripled. Bickers was acquired through the transfer portal from Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Hermosillo quickly responded, getting four runs across on six hits, all off Tulane transfer Luc Fladda.
“Luke had a hard time in the first inning,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “They did a good job, especially their starters, putting the ball in play.”
The Naranjeros stayed hot in the second, adding two more runs against junior college transfer Evan Brandt before being shut out the rest of the game.
We are so back pic.twitter.com/2pzuprm610
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) October 3, 2025
“Other than (Tony) Pluta and (Matthew) Martinez, we got to see some new guys, and I think they did a good job,” Hale said. “It’s not easy when you’re down 6-1. I’m really proud of the guys that just kept battling.”
The Wildcats clawed back with a Roman Meyers home run, a Beau Sylvester two-run shot, and a run scored by former Salpointe player Gunner Geile on a sacrifice bunt from Cash Brennan.
Meyers, a catcher, is a former Long Beach State player who was with Golden West College at Murrieta, Calif., before signing with Arizona.
Sylvester, a catcher, first baseman and outfielder, is a transfer from Oklahoma State, and Brennan is a freshman shortstop from Rocklin (Calif.) High School.
Arizona entered the seventh inning trailing by one, then exploded for nine runs on seven walks four hits and two wild pitches, to jump ahead 14-6.
The Wildcats added two more in the top half of the eighth to close out the 16-run night.
Recommended for you
