Midweek games have not be kind to the Arizona Wildcats. Before Tuesday’s matchup with Grand Canyon, the Wildcats had dropped four on the season.
One of those losses came March 3 when GCU used a ninth-inning, three-run comeback to escape with the win.
On Tuesday night at Hi Corbett Field, Arizona was able to grab an early lead and keep the Lopes at bay to secure a 5-4 win.
Arizona (9-15) got off to a hot start when Tony Lira hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first, his fifth home run on the season.
In the second inning, the Wildcats added two runs after Andrew Cain hit a leadoff double down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then, Roman Meyers grounded out to third, allowing Cain to score.
With two out, Carson McEntire hit a ball to left center that looked to be a double but the ball got away from GCU’s Carson Ohland and McEntire easily made it to third.
A Mathis Meurant single brought McEntire home.
Arizona would score its final two runs in the third. Caleb Danzeisen, Maddox Mihalakis and Cain were walked to load the bases. Meyers singled to left bringing in Danzeisen and Mihalakis. The inning ended when Jackson Forbes was caught stealing and was tagged out on a run down.
With Arizona carrying a 5-0 lead headed into the fourth inning, the Lopes (8-18) got two back when Cannon Peery smacked a two-run homer to left field to make the score 5-2. A double play shortended the threat.
During the bottom of the inning, Lira knocked a liner toward third that hit GCU’s third baseman Vince Bianchina in the face. Bianchina was still standing, in pain and was trying to shake it off but the GCU staff pulled him for concussion protocol.
The score remained 5-2 until the eighth inning when GCU’s Trevor Schmidt hit a deep ball to right field for a two-run home run, getting the Lopes within one run. A triple by Ohland put the tying run in scoring position but Patrick Morris was able to get the final out.
Garrett Hicks, who struggled against Texas Tech on Sunday, came in to close it out for the Wildcats getting a fly out and a strike out before allowing a double, but secured the win by getting GCU’s Mito Perez to fly out.
On the mound
Arizona starter Jack Lafflam worked four innings, faced 16 batters, struck out two on 50 pitches 34 of those strikes, allowed four hits and two runs earning his first win of the season.
Corey Kling replaced Lafflam in the fifth and threw two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just two hits.
Kling was relieved by Morris who pitched one inning allowing two runs on three hits and struck out four.
Hicks earned his second save of the season.
Stats roundup
Lira went 2 for 4, reached base three times, had an RBI from his solo home run.
Meurant had a career-high three hits on four at-bats that included an RBI double that was inches away from being a home run.
Cain went 1 for 3 with one run.
Meyers had three RBIs and went 1 for 3.
Arizona had nine hits, left nine runners on base (including leaving the bases loaded twice), and struck out five times.
Next up
Arizona (2-4 in the Big 12) heads to Orlando for a three-game Big 12 series that starts Friday with UCF (15-8, 5-1 Big 12). The Knights are tied atop the conference with West Virginia. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., Tucson time. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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