Arizona’s 8-6 win over New Mexico State on Wednesday night in Hi Corbett Field, snapped a six game losing streak for the Wildcats.
Arizona (17-30, 7-17 Big 12) got on the board in the second inning after a Mathis Meurant double and Cash Brennan single scored Meurant. A Carson McEntire double sent Brennan to third which allowed Brennan to score off of a wild pitch.
The Wildcats added three more runs in the third when Tony Lira hit an RBI single down the right field line and Beau Sylvester smashed a 408-foot two RBI homer to left field.
In the fifth inning Arizona added to their lead when Caleb Danzeisen was walked, then Dom Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, setting up a Brennan single that brought Danzeisen across the plate.
Brennan, a true freshman who usually plays short stop, got his second start at third base.
“He looks good.” Hale said on Brennan playing third base. “He’s a very athletic kid, he’s never played third. I think it’s kind of good for him because he doesn’t have time to think as a freshman, he reacts and he has great reactions. He’s a confident guy, I mean it’s not easy to do what he’s doing. The thing about Cash is he has the ability, he’s got athleticism, he can run so it’s nice to get some of that in the lineup.”
New Mexico State scored their first run in the sixth when Boston Vest hit an RBI single.
Sylvester’s second home run of the game was a solo to left field in the seventh inning giving the Wildcats a 7-1 advantage.
It was Sylvester’s first multi-home run game of his career.
“He hits the ball harder than anyone on our team, as hard as anybody in the country.” Arizona coach Chip Hale said about Sylvester’s at-bats. “He is not getting cheated, he’s swigging even when he doesn’t get a hit he’s at least getting his three swings up there. He’s dangerous and he’s confident.”
Arizona added its final run of the night in the eighth inning.
With Arizona holding an 8-1 lead headed into the top of the ninth inning the Wildcats needed three quick outs to end the game.
New Mexico State had other ideas and put together a five run rally to make things interesting before Collin McKinney came in to shut the door.
“I thought we played good baseball tonight.” Hale said, “The ninth inning was tough.”
True freshman Laflamm shines
Right hander Jack Laflamm, a true freshman, got the start for Arizona and pitched arguably his best game of the season throwing four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, struck out five and threw 39 strikes in 65 pitches.
“Very proud of him, threw his breaking ball for strikes, threw his fast ball where he wanted to.” Hale said on Laflamm’s time on the mound.
Arizona used a total of seven pitchers on the night.
Senior righty Matthew Martinez, who pitched the seventh, got the win and McKinney notched his first career save.
On playing at Arizona Martinez, whose parents met at Arizona, his mom was in the pom line and his dad played baseball, said, “It’s been a blast. Both my parents went to school here at U of A, so it’s a dream of mine to come here and play baseball. It’s been a dream come true.”
Sylvester makes the call
Benton Hickman started the ninth inning, but after hitting the first batter he faced and walking the second, Sylvester, who was the starting catcher in the game, noticed that something wasn’t right with Hickman. After consulting with the home plate umpire he called Arizona trainer Ben Kmetz out to check on Hickman.
“They shake out their arms but it’s like a quick little shake out, he was kind of searching for some pain relief.” Sylvester said.
“Sylvester was the one who saw it, so we went out there and he was just, his was weird because his biceps was just tight.” Hale said on taking Hickman out of the game.
Bailey out for remainder of season
While the Wildcats won the game, Arizona coach Chip Hale announced the loss of his Saturday starting pitcher Smith Bailey to a soft tissue injury in his right shoulder. Bailey will miss the remainder of the season due to the length of time rehab would take.
“Smith is gonna be done, he’s done for the year.” Hale said, “He’s got some soft tissue stuff and everything’s checked out so far, all the images they’ve done looked good so It’s just a matter of rehabbing. The problem is once you shut a guy down, to get him back going again now you’re talking about every day is probably two days to get back so it’s going to be at least a week before he can pick up a ball.”
This is the 10th injury to an Arizona player this season.
Post season race
A year after going to Omaha, the fate of the Wildcats’ post season this year comes down to the final two series’ of regular season play.
Arizona’s last home conference series starts on Friday against the Houston Cougars. A must-win series for the Wildcats who are tied for 12th in conference standing with Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders hold the tie breaker making the Houston series at home and the Oklahoma State series in Stillwater critical games for Arizona’s post season hopes.
The top 12 teams move on to the Big 12 tournament May 19-23 in Surprise.
Arizona is keeping a positive outlook on what needs to be done to get to post season play and had a special guest speak to the team.
“We actually had a team dinner last night and Tommy Lloyd talked to the team and he was saying that we probably learned more through this losing season than we did like last year being in Omaha and he’s kind of right.” Martinez said. “You learn a lot more as you’re losing because you figure out ways to get better, you’re forced to because you want to win. I feel like we’ve learned more this year.”
Martinez has been doing his part to help keep that positivity alive.
“Actually been talking to my team mates about it. Omaha, I don’t think has ever had a negative record team in history, so I don’t think it would be a bad idea to be the first. I know we have to make the tournament first to do that but it does come back to one game at a time.” Martinez said.
Next up:
Arizona hosts Houston (20-28, 4-20) in the opening game of the series on Friday at 6 p.m. in Hi Corbett Field. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
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