Arizona overcame a five-run deficit and rallied for two runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat Utah 8-6 in the Big 12 opener for both teams at Salt Lake City on Friday night.
After falling behind 6-1 in the sixth inning, Arizona (7-10) started to chip away against Utah (9-6).
The Wildcats, who have won four of their last five games, plated a run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning before putting together a four-run rally in the ninth inning, highlighted by Caleb Danzeisen’s three-run homer to right-center field to tie the game up at 6.
In the top of the 11th, Arizona capitalized on a wild pitch that allowed Maddox Mihalakis to score before Carson McEntire lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Beau Sylvester, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the night at 8-6.
Utah threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but Arizona reliever Garrett Hicks (1-0) closed the door to secure the win. Hicks pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing no hits while striking out three.
Arizona starter Owen Kramkowski, a Walden Grove graduate, had a credible performance, scattering nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) with eight strikeouts and only one walk.
Clorey King pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before Hicks entered in the seventh. King struck out two and did not allow a walk.
Danzeisen went 2 for 4, including the game-tying three-run homer, and Mihalakis went 2 for 4 with two runs.
McEntire was 1 for 3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly to record two RBIs.
Utah struck first, as it hit a solo home run in its first at-bat to take a 1-0 lead.
The Utes added to their lead in the fourth inning, scoring another run.
Arizona responded in the top of the sixth, as McEntire launched a sole home run to the opposite side of the field.
Utah managed to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their advantage up to 6-1.
The Wildcats added one run back in the seventh when Mihalakis hit a sacrifice fly to left-center field to score Nate Novitske.
Arizona entered the top of the ninth inning trailing Utah 6-2.
After a groundout to start the ninth frame, Cain drew a walk. Mihalakis followed by lacing a ball through the right side of the field for a single. Sylvester was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Danzeisen stepped up to the plate, and Cain scored while Mihalakis and Sylvester advanced on a wild pitch. Facing a full count, Danzeisen turned on a pitch and hit a line drive shot that carried over the wall in right-center field to tie the game at 6.
Hicks entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and worked around a walk and a hit batter to retire three Utah batters and send the game to extra innings.
Arizona did not get a runner on base in the top of the 10th, and Hicks once again worked around a walk to shut down the Utah offense, as the game entered the 11th inning.
After a fly out to start the 11th, Mihalakis came through with a clutch double to right field. Sylvester then singled to shallow right field to put runners on the corners with one out. After a walk to load the bases, Mihalakis scored on a wild pitch, giving Arizona their first lead of the contest. McEntire then hit a sacrifice fly to score Sylvester and increase Arizona’s lead.
Hicks retired the side in the bottom of the 11th to secure the victory for the Wildcats.
Arizona will return to the field on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the second game of the series..
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