The No. 18 University of Arizona baseball team saw a historic weekend coming from shortstop Mason White’s performance against the University of Utah. However, it wasn’t enough to save the Wildcats from a shocking home series loss to the Utes. Utah secured its first road series win over the Wildcats since 2017. Arizona salvaged the finale with an 8-7 win in the final game of the series after falling 8-6 on May 9 and 13-5 on May 10.
Game 1: Utah 8 – Arizona 6
Despite two towering 3-run homers from White, the Wildcats dropped the opener as Utah used early offense and good defense to take control. White’s 6 RBI performance gave him 40 career home runs, surpassing former teammate Chase Davis for third all-time in program history.
Arizona’s bullpen trio of Casey Hintz, Eric Orloff and Hunter Alberini combined for four scoreless innings. But Utah starter Colter McAnelly held Arizona to just 3 runs over seven innings and earned his 100th win as Utah’s head coach. The Utes stole momentum with a 3-run first inning and never trailed, with Kaden Carpenter and Core Jackson powering the offense.
Jackson capped the night with a rare straight steal of home in the ninth, the first for Utah since 2022. Arizona clawed back with a late homer from White in the ninth to cut the deficit to two, but Utah held on.
Game 2: Utah 13 – Arizona 5
Utah locked up the series win with a lopsided victory in game two, tagging Arizona pitching for 13 runs on just nine hits while drawing 13 walks, the most the Wildcats allowed since 2020. Jackson crushed 2 home runs and scored five times, reaching base in all six plate appearances. Drake Digiorno added 3 RBIs, while Austen Roellig scored 3 runs in a three-hit night.
Arizona’s offense couldn’t keep up despite home runs from Garen Caulfield and Andrew Cain and a triple apiece from White and Tommy Splaine. Starter Jackson Kent was chased early, and the bullpen couldn’t slow the Utes, who erupted for 4 runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to put the game away.
Raul Garayzar provided a bright spot with four strong innings of relief, but it wasn’t enough to offset Utah’s relentless plate discipline and timely hitting.
Game 3: Arizona 8 – Utah 7
On Senior Day, the Wildcats avoided a sweep thanks to a 16-hit breakout and a clutch performance from their bullpen. Arizona built a 4-0 lead through four innings and answered every Utah rally to secure the finale. Six Wildcats notched multiple hits, including a perfect 4-for-4 day from third baseman Maddox Mihalakis.
During the game, White’s career home runs added to 41 — just two shy of second all-time at Arizona — while Brendan Summerhill and Easton Breyfogle each added extra-base hits. Freshman Smith Bailey pitched six solid innings with six strikeouts and no walks, though he did not factor into the decision.
Utah’s Digiorno did his best to spoil the party with 2 home runs — tying the game in both the sixth and eighth innings — but Arizona took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth on a single up the middle. Tony Pluta earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief.
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