The University of Arizona baseball team (20-8, 6-3 in Big 12) fell short in their midweek matchup against GCU on Tuesday, April 1, suffering an 11-5 defeat at GCU Ballpark. Despite strong offensive performances from the top of their lineup, the Wildcats were unable to overcome the Antelopes’ effectiveness at the plate. This is the Wildcats third loss in the past four games.
Freshman starting pitcher Mason Russell made his first career start for Arizona, working two innings and allowing 2 runs on two hits. The Wildcats’ bullpen held its own at times, with right-handers Garrett Hicks and Julian Tonghini each tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts apiece, while Carson Johnson added 0.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Offensively, Aaron Walton and Garen Caulfield continued their stellar seasons, combining to go 5-for-8 with two doubles and reaching base seven times. First baseman Andrew Cain also contributed, going 2-for-5 with a run and a double, while third baseman Mathis Meurant delivered a two-RBI triple in the eighth inning—Arizona’s Division I-leading 18th triple of the season. Arizona’s offense showed resilience, but each time the Wildcats scored, GCU responded with multiple runs of its own.
Despite Arizona’s efforts, GCU’s bats proved difficult to contain. The Lopes executed well in key situations, using sacrifices, walks, and timely hits to extend their lead. Freshman second baseman Scuba Smolinski provided a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth, while junior third baseman Eli Paton crushed his team-leading sixth home run of the season in the fifth. The Lopes’ bullpen was also effective, limiting the Wildcats to just one earned run over the final innings.
Although the result was not in Arizona’s favor, the Wildcats’ lineup continued to showcase its offensive depth and efficiency. As Arizona looks ahead to conference play, the Wildcats will aim to carry their offensive momentum forward while tightening up their pitching and defensive execution.
Looking ahead
Arizona will head into a three-game road series against rival ASU that begins on Friday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The series will go on through Sunday, April 6 in Phoenix. The games will also be streamed on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
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