The University of Arizona baseball team wrapped up its regular season with a statement series win over the University of Houston, taking two of the three games on the road from May 15-17, securing a first-round bye in the Big 12 Championship being played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Game 1: Houston 13, Arizona 4
Arizona carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but the Cougars surged ahead with consecutive five-run innings to hand the Wildcats a 13-4 loss in Thursday’s series opener on May 15 at Schroeder Park.
Second baseman Garen Caulfield launched his fifth home run of the season, and Easton Breyfogle tripled home 2 runs to give Arizona early momentum. Houston’s offense erupted late, finishing with 16 hits — its most in Big 12 play since joining the league.
Tre Broussard hit a 3-run homer in the sixth to give the Cougars the lead for good, while Connor McGinnis finished a home run shy of the cycle in his return from injury. Arizona’s bullpen was taxed for 7 runs over the final three innings.
Right-hander Michael Hilker Jr. stood out as a lone bright spot, striking out two in a clean eighth.
Game 2: Arizona 14 – Houston 6
Arizona answered emphatically in game two, exploding for 9 runs in the second inning and cruising to a 14-6 win on May 16.
The Wildcats tied their season-high for runs in a conference game (also: March 15 14-2 against University of Cincinnati), racking up 17 hits — nine for extra bases — with five players logging multi-hit efforts. Aaron Walton went 4-for-6 with 2 RBIs, and Caulfield and Breyfogle each drove in 3.
Freshman Raul Garayzar, making his first weekend start, held Houston to 1 run across 4.2 innings. Matthew Martinez (3-0) earned the win in relief and Arizona’s bullpen allowed just 1 run over the final four frames.
Houston scratched across 4 runs in the eighth, but the game was out of reach by then. Broussard homered again for the Cougars and Kenneth Jimenez added his first long ball of the season.
Game 3: Arizona 8 – Houston 1
Freshman Smith Bailey delivered his best outing of the year, and the Wildcats clinched the series — and a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament — with an 8-1 win on Saturday afternoon.
Bailey limited Houston to just 1 run on three hits over six innings, striking out five to improve to 2-3 on the season. The bullpen trio of Julian Tonghini, Hunter Alberini and Tony Pluta was nearly flawless, combining for three scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
Andrew Cain led the offense with a three-hit day, including 2 doubles and a home run. Mason White added a 2-run shot in the fifth, giving him 101 career extra-base hits — tied for third most in program history with head coach Chip Hale.
Broussard homered for the third straight game for Houston, finishing the weekend with six hits and 8 RBIs. Senior Malachi Lott capped his home career with three singles and a ninth-inning relief appearance.
Arizona’s 36 regular season wins are its most since 2021 (40). The Wildcats compete in Big 12 Championship play from May 22-24 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
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