After winning the opening game of the BYU series on Thursday, Arizona went into Friday’s second game at Hi Corbett Field looking to secure their first Big 12 home series of the year.
They will have to wait one more game to try to make that happen after the Wildcats lost 5-1 to the Cougars.
“When you go through last night beautifully like that, it’s the season in a nutshell, inconsistent and sloppy,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said.
With Texas Tech losing to Oklahoma State Friday and Arizona (16-25, 7-13) losing to BYU, the Wildcats remain a half game ahead in the race for the final spot in the Big 12 tournament.
BYU (21-20, 10-10) struck first with a sacrifice fly to center field by Ezra McNaughton that plated Matt Hansen.
Arizona center fielder Carson McEntire made three incredible catches. Two were made in the third inning.
The first one was on the McNaughton fly ball to right center that ended in a double play. McEntire threw to Jackson Forbes at second as the BYU runner was headed his way. The runner reversed direction and headed back to first but couldn’t beat the throw from Forbes to Tony Lira at first and was called out.
Carson McEntire, TAKE A BOW
The range, the full extension, and the double play #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Vi0wsoniID
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) April 25, 2026
The second was an identical catch but this time to left center.
Carson McEntire, take a bow pt. 2 @McentireCarson pic.twitter.com/f6va2qDdjd
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) April 25, 2026
The Cougars added another run in the top of the fifth inning.
Arizona’s first and only run of the night came in the bottom of the fifth.
With Cash Brennan on third base after hitting a lead off double and advancing on a Caleb Danzeisen fly out, Nate Novitske sent a sacrifice fly to left field plating Brennan.
BYU extended their lead to 4-1 in the sixth.
McEntire’s third catch was a diving catch forward. A true defensive trifecta for the Oregon State transfer.
Carson McEntire, take a bow PART 3 @McentireCarson pic.twitter.com/1LyVFPkFb0
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) April 25, 2026
“He’s a very good center fielder; he’s made a lot of plays for us all year,” Hale said. “Those were tremendous couple diving plays. That was definitely something you can build off of.”
BYU starting pitcher Garrison Sumner had Arizona’s number most of the night, limiting the offense to four hits and striking out nine.
Arizona went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and committed four errors on defense, the most errors committed by the Wildcats since 2024.
Owen Kramkowski pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing seven hits, three runs and striking out four before being replaced by Collin McKinney.
McKinney finished with six hits, two runs, one walk and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
“We’ve just got to be ready to play and win the series.” Hale said
The game three rubber match is set for noon Saturday and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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