When all phases of the game are clicking on the same night, good things happen.
A pitching shutout by Walden Grove alum Owen Kramkowski, zero errors on defense and six runs on 12 hits paved the way for Arizona to notch a 6-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday night in Hi Corbett Field.
“The tone was set by Kramkowski, just threw beautifully and stranded the runner in the first where they could take a 1-0 lead,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “I think, in some ways, that got the guys going and great at-bats, I thought the at-bats all night were good, only struck out a few times. We played good baseball.”
Owen Kramkowski threw a career-high 12 strikeouts in six shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks. The junior faced 23 batters and threw 65 strikes on 90 pitches to earn his first win of the season.
“That’s what I know I can do so I think that was what kind of what I had to do was just stick to what I’ve been doing even though the result hasn’t been there,” Kramkowski said. “I know what I can do.
“Just trust in it and not changing a thing. Just kind of pound the zone and trust my stuff and don’t do more than I have to.”
Junior right-hander Corey Kling took over for Kramkowski in the seventh inning, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing only two hits.
Benton Hickman pitched the final inning. The freshman righty allowed one hit and retired three of the four batters that he faced.
Arizona’s defense was close to flawless all night committing no errors, but the play of the night was made by true freshman shortstop Cash Brennan.
A line drive was hit to Brennan. He scooped the ball, elevated and threw to Tony Lira at first while spinning in the air for the out.
that's just unfair
Ridiculous play at short from @Cashbrennan11 pic.twitter.com/dbGoeSKdLr
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 7, 2026
“I was walking underneath (in the dugout); I didn’t see it,” Hale said. “All I saw was his body elevated up in the air but I’ve seen him do it plenty of times in practice. He works on it. He’s a super athletic player and that’s why he’s out there right now.
“We’re blessed to have him as a freshman, a true freshman so that’s just good defense.”
On his defensive play in the third inning, Brennan said, “It’s always instinctual. I never really think about what I’m going to do like exactly, I just kind of instinctually picked it up jumped and threw. I usually use my athleticism to my advantage.”
Kramkowski, Kling and Hickman were the benefactors of a stellar defense by the Wildcats that helped to keep the game scoreless.
“It’s insane,” Kramkowski said. “I love having them behind me. A game like that where I feel like my stuff is working and even when they hit it, the play is going to be made you just trust them all the time.
“It’s awesome to have that behind me. That play by Cash, never seen something like that, he’s a freshman out here just trusting everything he does. It’s awesome.”
On offense, Arizona matched a season-high 12 hits and didn’t waste any time getting runs on the board.
After back-to-back walks to Tyler Bickers and Nate Novitske in the bottom of the first, Lira stepped up to the plate and smoked a three-run home run to left field, his second home run of the season.
Then, Jackson Forbes reached on a fielder’s choice, bringing Maddox Mihalakis across the plate giving Arizona a 4-0 lead at the end of the inning.
In the fourth inning, Mihalakis hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Bickers.
The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth when a Mihalakis single brought Novitske home.
“I think it was just three strikeouts, which is incredible where we’re coming from,” Hale said of his batters. “We’ve been working hard on it.”
Stats Roundup:
Novitske went 3 for 4, reaching base four times and scoring two runs. The freshman has been a bright spot for the Wildcats at the plate.
Lira was 2 for 4 with a walk, including his first inning homer.
Mihalakis notched two hits, two RBIs and scored once.
Forbes ended the game going 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Bickers, saw his first time in the lineup after being out the last four games. He went 1 for 4 scoring two runs and was walked once.
Up Next:
Arizona (4-9) and Fresno State (7-5) will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.
“The great thing and the bad thing about baseball you’ve got to come back and do it tomorrow.” Hale said.
Game Extras:
A scout for the San Francisco Giants was in attendance to watch Kramkowski’s career night.
The Juice Box sunsets over the Terry Francona Hitting Center are pretty spectacular!
Get to Hi C tomorrow for game two and you can experience Juice Box sunsets too! pic.twitter.com/za13fhU40b
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) March 7, 2026
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