Friday night in Hi Corbett Field was themed “Stranger Things Night.” Staying true to the theme, things got strange as Arizona used a seven-run seventh inning comeback to notch a 7-4 win over No. 25 Arizona State to even the series.
“It’s a great win against our arch rival, whose one of the best teams not only in our league but in the country this year, against maybe one of the best pitchers in the country that’s going to be in the top one, probably in the first round of the draft this year,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “So, very proud of our guys to stick with it because he (Cole Carlon) definitely had our number.”
After trailing 4-0 through six innings, the Wildcats’ bats woke up in the seventh.
It was no accident that the comeback happened after Carlon was removed by Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist after the sixth inning.
The lefty had stymied Arizona’s offense all night allowing just six hits, no runs and dealt a career-high 12 strikeouts before being replaced when his pitch count reached 103.
“I guess the only positive of striking out so much is he has to throw a lot of pitches,” Hale said.
Arizona immediately took advantage of the pitching change.
After Carson McEntire hit a lead-off single off of right-hander Colby Guy, the strange in Stranger Things showed up.
Nate Novitske reached base on a fielding error by shortstop PJ Moutzouridis that scored McEntire from second base.
Caleb Danzeisen walked and the runners advanced to second and third off a wild pitch.
Tony Lira walked to load the bases.
With bases loaded and one out, Arizona State brought righty Finn Edwards in for Guy to try to get out of the inning with limited damage.
That strategy didn’t work out the way Bloomquist hoped.
Edwards walked Roman Meyers, giving Arizona its second run of the inning.
Bloomquist immediately made another pitching change, going to lefty Sean Fitzpatrick.
Once again, Arizona was able to do damage. This time it was an Andrew Cain’s two-run single that tied the game at 4. Cain advanced to second on the throw to home.
With an empty base at first, Arizona State intentionally walked Beau Sylvester, who was 2 for 3, loading the bases.
A Maddox Mihalakis single to right field drove Meyers and Cain home, putting Arizona ahead 6-4.
Meurant was hit by pitch to load the bases again.
A balk by Fitzpatrick awarded the runners a base, which brought Sylvester home for the seventh run of the inning.
Novitske struck out to end the bleeding for the Sun Devils.
Arizona’s defense and pitching closed out the last two innings to secure the Wildcats’ win.
Starter Smith Bailey threw five solid innings on the mound for Arizona, striking out five and walking two. He allowed four runs (two earned).
Collin McKinney replaced Bailey and pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings, earning the win.
McKinney faced 11 batters and allowed three hits and dealt three strikeouts before being replaced by Maclain Roberts.
Roberts entered the game in the eighth and forced a double play to end the inning.
Garrett Hicks came in to close it out for Arizona in the ninth for a save.
Hicks recorded a strike out and two ground outs to close the door on the Sun Devils.
“They just stayed with it,” Hale said. “It was a tough start, made some defensive mistakes and I thought Smith bailed us out to get us out of there 4-0, still a chance to win. It was great.
“Then McKinney did a wonderful job, Maclain Roberts, and of course, Hicks closed us out.”
“That was crazy, we put up seven, which was awesome.” Mihalakis said of the seventh-inning rally. “We got the starter out and we knew that things were going to start turning our way.”
The look of a team that just beat their rivals! pic.twitter.com/jMrzjMtaMy
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) April 4, 2026
Friday night was also Arizona Football Appreciation Night.
A large number of players from the football team showed up with the 2025 Territorial Cup trophy as well as the turnover sword and were recognized after the second inning. Players went on top of both dugouts during the recognition and displayed the turnover sword and the trophy. The team also signed autographs prior to the start of the game with Noah Fifita throwing out the first pitch.
“They were really loud, they came in early they got the fans pumped up, they took the Territorial Cup tonight, which was awesome.” Maddox said, “So, I just think it just rose the energy level a little bit from the start. It felt like a big game, it always is with these guys so it was good to be able see them here as well supporting us.”
Arizona football is recognized between the second and third inning. The turnover sword and a group of players stood on the top of the ASU dugout. The Territorial Cup and another group of players stood on top of the Arizona dugout.
ASU baseball players seemed unfazed. … pic.twitter.com/hB0GSX7abC
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) April 4, 2026
The rivalry rubber match between Arizona (10-20, 3-8 Big 12) and Arizona State (22-9, 6-4) is on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Hi Corbett Field and can be viewed on ESPN2.
Arizona basketball will be playing their Final Four game against Michigan at approximately the same time as the Wildcats face the Sun Devils in Hi Corbett Field. Due to the game being aired on ESPN2 it could not be moved to a different time slot.
On fan support and the challenge of playing at the same time as the Final Four game Hale said, “We know tomorrow might be a challenge with the basketball game at the same time, but I’m so proud of our students. The city of Tucson supports us so well and we’ve been battling. I just hope they appreciate the way the guys bust their tails for them.”
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