In their third and final game in Arlington, Texas, the Arizona Wildcats faced their first ranked team in No. 14 Texas Tech. Sophomore Dawson Netz got the start for Arizona in this matchup. 

The first four innings were a pitcher’s duel as each team was only able to record one hit. Outfielder Chase Davis was able to get on base for Arizona with a leadoff single in the second inning, but the batters behind him were not able to get him across the plate. 

Texas Tech’s starter Mason Molina was able to keep the Arizona offense off the scoreboard until the fifth inning. Garen Caulfield who got the start at third base led the inning off with a double. The next hitter in the lineup Nik McClaughry was able to come through with an RBI double to give Arizona a 1-0 lead.  

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In response, Texas Tech decided to go to their bullpen. This did not stop the Wildcat’s offense. Catcher Daniel Susac was able to single back up the middle allowing McClaughry to score from second base extending their lead. Right fielder O’Tremba Tanner followed up Susac’s single with a double getting him across the plate pushing the lead to 3-0. Before the inning was over Davis hit a 2-run homerun expanding Arizona’s lead to 5-0.   

Netz would find himself in a jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Texas Tech had two runners on with two batters out. After surrendering a single and a walk, Netz was able to force a groundball back to him to get the last out at third. 

To open the bottom of the sixth inning Arizona made the move to the bullpen, bringing in George Arias Jr. ending Netz’s day. He finished with a stat line of five innings pitched, six strikeouts and three hits with zero earned runs. 

Arias Jr. began the inning by loading the bases after allowing a single and two walks to the first three batters. Texas Tech was able to get on the board after Ryan Brome scored on a fielder’s choice and Owen Washburn scored on and single to make the score 5-2. 

The Wildcats would also score 2 runs in the seventh inning but they broke this game open in the top of the eighth inning. As Davis singled to score a run, then Noah Turley followed up with a base clearing double to give Arizona a 10-2 lead. The Wildcats were still not done as they pushed across three more runs in the top of the ninth inning to go up 13-2. 

Arizona would be able to close out the ninth inning to gain the 13-2 win over Texas Tech and now sit at 3-0 on the season. The Wildcats will be back in action Tuesday at Hi Corbett Field vs Grand Canyon at 6 p.m.