GCU ends Arizona’s baseball 11-game winning streak, beats Wildcats 5-4

Kellen O’Halloran

April 16, 2024

The Arizona baseball team huddles before its game against Hermosillo at the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 5 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Hermosillo will go on to play a game each day throughout the weekend.

In a tightly contested midweek matchup, the Arizona baseball team faced a tough challenge against in-state opponent GCU, ultimately falling short with a final score of 5-4. Despite a ninth-inning rally that brought them within 1 run, the Wildcats couldn’t complete the comeback.

After spending much of the season unranked, Arizona surged to No. 21 in the national rankings this week. The Wildcats’ ascent into the top-25 was due to their remarkable 11-game winning streak, marking their longest win streak since their 2012 National Championship-winning team, which also won 11 consecutive games.

The scoring commenced in the top of the first inning when Arizona center fielder Brendan Summerhill homered to right-center field, his 5th home run of the season. GCU responded emphatically in the next inning, scoring 3 runs.

Arizona would not score again until the top of the sixth inning. Emilio Corona started off the inning with a base hit. In the next at-bat, left fielder Easton Breyfogle doubled, allowing Corona to round the bases and score, making the score 3-2.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, GCU scored 2 more runs courtesy of RBIs from Emilio Barreras and Eddy Pelc.

Heading into the top of the ninth, the score of the game was 5-2. After a leadoff strikeout, the Wildcats were able to score 2 runs. Mason White scored off a wild pitch from GCU’s closer, Hunter Watkins. Then, Summerhill tallied his second RBI of the game with a single to right field. After making the score 5-4, the stage was set for the Wildcats to take the lead. With one out and runners on second and third, Corona struck out swinging. It all came down to Breyfogle, who unfortunately hit a pop fly to left field to end the game.

Arizona’s starting pitcher, Bradon Zastrow, suffered the loss, pitching only 1.1 innings and allowing 3 runs, 2 of which were earned. Arizona’s bullpen performed well, holding Grand Canyon to just 2 runs over 6.2 innings while tallying six strikeouts.

GCU played the villain role Tuesday night, snapping the longest winning streak for the program since 2012 and most likely pushing Arizona out of the top 25 after this week. Arizona will get a chance at revenge when they play GCU again on April 30 at Hi Corbett Field.