As spring approaches, anticipation is building among the University of Arizona baseball fans for the current season and its first year in the Big 12. Arizona had its best year under fourth-year head coach Chip Hale last season. The Wildcats finished 36-23, winning the Pac-12 regular season title, Pac-12 tournament title, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Hale is the first Arizona head coach since Frank Sancet to make the NCAA Tournament in each of his first three seasons with the program.
The Wildcats come into the season ranked 21st in the country. It’s no surprise that Arizona starts off the year in the top 25 of the NCAA rankings, as the team boasts many key returning players. Among the highlights of Arizona’s roster are infielder Mason White and outfielder Brendan Summerhill, both of whom earned spots on the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
White, a Tucson native, has been a consistent performer, boasting a career .309 batting average, 29 home runs and 100 RBIs over two seasons. Summerhill led the team with a .324 batting average last season and was instrumental in securing the Wildcats’ Pac-12 Conference regular-season title with a walk-off two-run double against Oregon State University.
On the diamond, the Wildcats lost their two leaders in ERA, wins and inning pitched (IP), Clark Candiotti and Cam Walty. Jackson Kent, who was their third-best starting pitcher last season, will have to step up as the team’s new ace.
Newcomers such as Christian Coppola, Smith Bailey and Mason Russell will need to make an early impact in their Wildcat careers. Coppola is a junior transfer from Rutgers University while Bailey and Russell are an exciting pair of freshmen, both ranked inside the top 90 of the 2024 recruiting class by Perfect Game.
The Wildcats will kick off their season campaign at the Shriners Children’s College Classic in Arlington, Texas, from Feb. 14-16. Arizona is set to face formidable opponents, including the University of Mississippi, No. 15 Clemson University and the University of Louisville.
Following this, Arizona will host its home opener against the University of New Mexico on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. MST at Hi Corbett Field. This marks the beginning of a three-game home stand that promises plenty of action for Wildcat fans.
This season is particularly significant as it marks Arizona’s inaugural year in the Big 12 conference. The Wildcats will commence conference play with a three-game series at home against the University of Cincinnati from March 14-16.
Other notable home matchups include Arizona going up against Kansas State University on March 18 and Baylor University from March 28-30. On the road, the Wildcats will face traditional powerhouses such as rivals ASU from April 4-6, Oklahoma State University from April 11-13 and Texas Tech University from April 25-27, providing early tests of their competitiveness in the new conference.
The Wildcats have consistently performed at a high level under Hale and with a strong core of returning players, complemented by a recruiting class ranked No. 22 nationally by Baseball America, they are well-positioned for another successful season. The primary question, however, is whether they can rise to the challenge of competing in a new conference like the Big 12. With Hale’s leadership and experience, Arizona fans have every reason to be confident in the team’s ability to thrive in a more competitive conference.
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