The No. 2 seed University of Arizona baseball team made the most of its only offensive surge, riding a 3-run second inning and clutch pitching to a 3-2 win over the California Polytechnic State University in the opening round of the NCAA Eugene Regional on Friday, May 30, at PK Park.
The Wildcats, fresh off their Big 12 Tournament title, moved into the winner’s bracket despite being outhit 10-2 by the Mustangs. First baseman Tommy Splaine jumpstarted the scoring in the second inning with an RBI triple before Easton Breyfogle followed with a 2-run home run — his fifth of the season — giving Arizona an early 3-0 lead.
That was all the offense Arizona needed.
Sophomore right-hander Owen Kramkowski (9-5) turned in a dominant outing, allowing just 1 run on eight hits across seven innings while striking out seven. Cal Poly (41-18) had plenty of chances, stranding nine runners on base, including the bases loaded in the fourth and runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth.
The Mustangs chipped away with runs in the sixth and eighth, including a solo homer by Cam Hoiland, but Arizona closer Tony Pluta closed out the game in the ninth. After a leadoff single, Pluta struck out one and ended the game on a double play to notch his 13th save of the season, tying the program’s single-season record.
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