The University of Arizona baseball team (11-4) swept Pepperdine University (3-14) in a four-game series at Hi Corbett Field from March 6 to March 9. The Wildcats avenged their loss against then-No. 3 University of Tennessee, putting them into a four-game winning streak, including a massive 21-2 win on March 8.
Game 1: Arizona 7 – Pepperdine 2
Arizona opened its four-game series against Pepperdine with a 7-2 win on Thursday night. The Wildcats took an early lead and never trailed, backed by strong pitching and timely hitting.
Right fielder Brendan Summerhill would almost finish the cycle, only missing a double. Summerhill could both score twice on his while also driving in two runners. His solo home run in the seventh, his second of the season, extended Arizona’s lead. Center fielder Aaron Walton went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs, while catcher Adonys Guzman added three hits, including a double.
Starter Michael Hilker Jr. pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit. Arizona’s bullpen combined for six innings, surrendering two runs on two hits. Right-hander Carson Johnson retired six straight batters on 14 pitches in his two innings on the mound to earn his second win.
Pepperdine managed two hits through the first seven innings. Freshman catcher Esteban Sepulveda doubled in the eighth, and graduate outfielder Nick Upstill followed with an RBI triple. A sacrifice fly by Cam Conley added another run, but Arizona’s lead held.
Game 2: Arizona 3 – Pepperdine 1
Pitchers Collin McKinney and Casey Hintz led Arizona to a 3-1 victory in the second game of the series, holding Pepperdine to one run on seven hits.
McKinney allowed one run adn seven strikeouts over six innings before Hintz closed out the game with three scoreless innings with three stirkeouts to earn the win.
The Waves took a 1-0 lead in the sixth after a throwing error allowed redshirt sophomore Joe Cardinale to score on a single by senior infielder Julian Nunez. Arizona responded in the bottom half, as Walton led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Garen Caulfield.
The game remained tied until the eighth, when Summerhill singled, which put two runners on base. Caulfield delivered again with an RBI single to give the Wildcats the lead, and an insurance run followed.
Pepperdine threatened in the ninth after a double by freshman outfielder Brodey Bitove, but Arizona turned in a game-ending double play.
Pepperdine starter Tommy Scavone struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run on four hits.
Game 3: Arizona 21 – Pepperdine 2
Arizona’s offense exploded for 25 hits in a 21-2 rout Saturday. Thirteen Wildcats recorded a hit, and six had multiple RBIs.
Shortstop Mason White led the way with five hits and four RBIs, marking Arizona’s first five-hit performance since he did it against Stanford in May 2023. Designated hitter Maddox Mihalakis added a double, a triple, and two RBIs, while Walton went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
The Wildcats scored three runs in the first inning and added 18 more over the next seven frames.
Starter Owen Kramkowski pitched 5.1 innings without allowing an earned run, holding Pepperdine hitless through the first four innings. Arizona’s bullpen combined to allow one hit and strike out eight over the final three innings.
Pepperdine struggled offensively, recording five hits and committing several key errors. The Waves trailed 9-0 after two innings and 13-0 by the fifth. Their only runs came in the sixth, when redshirt sophomore Max Bernal singled in a run and freshman Danny Cook added an RBI double.
Arizona added eight more runs after that, sealing the dominant win.
Game 4: Arizona 5 – Pepperdine 3
Arizona completed the sweep with a 5-3 comeback win Sunday, improving to 8-0 at home.
Pepperdine took an early lead as Luke Pemberton hit an RBI triple in the first. The Waves extended their advantage in the sixth when Andrew Savage drove in two runs with a double, making it 3-0.
Arizona cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom half. In the seventh, with the bases loaded and one out, Caulfield lined a three-run triple into right-center to put the Wildcats ahead 4-3. They tacked on another run off of a Mihalakis sacrifice fly to send Caulfield home to cap a four-run inning.
Starter Smith Bailey allowed three runs and threw six strikeouts in his 5.2 innings on the mound. The bullpen shut down the Waves, as Garrett Hicks, Hunter Alberini and Tony Pluta combined for 3.1 scoreless innings.
Despite outhitting Arizona 10-7, Pepperdine could not capitalize late. The Waves put two runners on in the ninth, but Arizona held on to secure the sweep.
Looking Ahead
Arizona will host Arizona State (12-4) on Tuesday, March 11 at Hi Corbett Field. The Wildcats look to keep their streak rolling as the face a Sun Devil squad who are on a five game winning streak.
