Arizona baseball falls short against Oregon losing the weekend series 2-1

Kellen O’Halloran

March 25, 2024

An Arizona batter sends a ball into play in a preseason game against the Hermosillo Naranjeros at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Oct. 5. Arizona won the game 3-1.

Arizona baseball traveled to Eugene, Oregon for a three-game series against the University of Oregon on March 22-24. The Wildcats aimed to bounce back in conference play after losing their previous series 2-1 against ASU. However, they fell short in yet another series, losing to Oregon 2-1, though they did manage to win game three after dropping the first two.

Day 1: Friday, March 22

Game 1: Arizona vs. Oregon at 5:05 p.m.

The opening game at PK Park featured impressive pitching performances, with Oregon’s RJ Gordon leading the charge, allowing just 1 run on four hits over 6.1 innings while striking out seven. Arizona’s starting pitcher, Jackson Kent, delivered another strong performance, holding Oregon to just 2 runs on five hits over 7.0 innings. The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, marking the first time this season for Oregon. Arizona’s Adonys Guzman broke the tie in the fourth inning with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. Shortstop Mason White scored on the play after leading off the inning with a double. Oregon responded with a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, sparked by consecutive walks from Justin Cassella and Drew Smith. Jeffery Heard’s well-placed bunt loaded the bases, setting the stage for Bennett Thompson’s clutch 2-run single through the left side, giving Oregon a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats threatened in the ninth inning, with Guzman leading off with a hit, but Oregon’s Logan Mercado held firm and sealed the win with a scoreless ninth inning.

Day 2: Saturday, March 23

Game 2: Arizona vs. Oregon at 2:05 p.m.

In the second game, the Ducks sealed it with a dramatic walk-off victory over the Wildcats. Bryce Boettcher played the hero’s role for the Ducks, driving in the winning run with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth inning, securing a 3-2 win. Oregon took an early 2-0 lead when Boettcher launched a 2-run homer over the left-field wall in the second inning. Arizona bounced back in the fifth inning when White made it 2-1 off a solo home run. Arizona tied it up in the seventh inning off a double by Brendan Summerhill with Tommy Splaine scoring. Both teams received strong pitching performances. Oregon was able to limit Arizona to only 2 runs on five hits, with Bradley Mullan picking up his fourth win of the season. Starter Grayson Grinsell and reliever Michael Freund also contributed to the Ducks’ pitching effort.

Arizona’s Clark Candiotti delivered another solid start, allowing only 2 runs on three hits over 5.1 innings, while the Wildcats’ bullpen trio of Eric Orloff, Kyler Heyne and Tony Pluta kept the game within reach with solid relief appearances. In the bottom of the ninth, the walk-off play began with Anson Aroz reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, followed by pinch hitter Chase Meggers’ crucial double that advanced pinch runner Mason Neville to third. Boettcher’s perfectly executed bunt allowed Neville to make it home, sliding in safely to beat the tag from Arizona catcher Guzman. Boettcher was the difference-maker in the game, driving in all 3 of Oregon’s runs.

Day 3: Sunday, March 24

Game 3: Arizona vs. Oregon at 12:05 p.m.

In the final game of the series, Brendan Summerhill’s 7 RBI performance helped propel the Wildcats to a 15-4 win, the third most scored runs in a game by the Wildcats this season. On the mound, Cam Walty led the charge for Arizona with a great pitching performance, holding Oregon to just 2 runs (one earned) on five hits over 5.1 innings while striking out eight. This was Walty’s fourth win of the season. The bullpen combination of Bradon Zastrow, Casey Hintz, Orloff and Trevor Long put together a good outing, allowing 1 earned run. Oregon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning off Aroz’s solo home run and Cassella’s RBI single. Arizona quickly responded in the fourth inning when Easton Breyfogle hit an RBI double. Breyfogle would tie the game up later in the inning, scoring off an error. Arizona tallied on more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. The Ducks narrowed the gap in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Summerhill sealed the win in the eighth inning, hitting a grand slam to make the score 13-4.