The University of Arizona baseball team (39–18, 18–12 in Big 12) capped off its first season in the Big 12 with a Championship trophy, going undefeated during the Phillips 66 Big 12 baseball tournament and outlasting TCU in a tense 10-inning final. The Wildcats powered through BYU, a top-seeded West Virginia University team and TCU to claim the program’s first-ever Big 12 Championship title at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, from Thursday, May 22, to Saturday, May 24.
With the victory in the finale over TCU, Arizona has gained an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats mark their fifth consecutive season qualifying for an NCAA Regional.
Game 1: Arizona 4 – BYU 1
Arizona opened its tournament run May 22 on Thursday morning with a 4–1 win over BYU behind an early offensive spark and a shutdown effort on the mound.
The Wildcats jumped out to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning when Mason White and Adonys Guzman launched back-to-back solo home runs off opposite foul poles, giving Arizona a 2-0 lead before BYU recorded a second out. Arizona added to its lead in the fifth inning when Maddox Mihalakis drove in a run with a single, and Dom Rodriguez delivered an RBI double in the eighth to tack on insurance.
On the mound, freshman right-hander Owen Kramkowski was nearly untouchable, tossing six shutout innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Tony Pluta handled the final two innings for the six-out save — his 12th of the year and 14th of his career, tying him for fifth-most in Arizona history.
White finished the game 2-for-3 with a triple and a home run, Mihalakis added a 2-for-3 performance with a walk and an RBI, and designated hitter Easton Breyfogle went 2-for-3 with a walk. With the victory over the Cougars, Arizona advanced to its fourth straight conference tournament semifinal since 2022.
Game 2: Arizona 12 – West Virginia 1
Arizona faced its toughest test in the semifinals but delivered its most dominant performance of the year, routing top-seeded West Virginia 12–1 on Friday night.
White turned in a career night with a massive effort, crushing 2 home runs and finishing 4-for-4 with 6 RBIs, 4 runs scored, a double and two walks.
His first homer, a solo shot in the first inning, opened the scoring. His second, a 3-run bomb in the fifth, broke the game open and gave Arizona a 5-0 lead. He added RBI hits in both the seventh and ninth innings to round out a monster performance.
Arizona’s offense poured it on late, scoring 3 in the seventh and 2 more in the ninth to wrap up a blowout performance. Guzman (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) and Aaron Walton (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) contributed key hits as well, while the top four hitters in Arizona’s lineup combined for 11 hits and 11 runs scored.
On the mound, right-hander Raul Garayzar delivered a gem. Making just his third start of the year, Garayzar went six shutout innings, allowing only six singles and striking out three. Collin McKinney closed out the final two innings without allowing a run.
White’s 2-home-run outing marked his third multi-homer game of the season and pushed his career total to 45, second-most in program history. With the victory, Arizona punched its ticket to the Big 12 title game.
Game 3: Arizona 2 – TCU 1
The Big 12 Championship finale on Saturday night turned into a classic, as Arizona battled back from a 1-0 deficit to overcome and defeat TCU 2–1 in 10 innings, winning the tournament crown.
TCU struck first with a run in the bottom of the first on a groundout following a walk and a double. Arizona, meanwhile, stranded runners in four straight innings and didn’t score until the top of the ninth. Outfielder Andrew Cain launched a solo home run to right field, leveling the game 1-1.
After TCU went scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, the Wildcats rallied again in the tenth. White was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, advancing to third on a single from Guzman and scored on an RBI single up the middle from Mihalakis, giving Arizona its first lead of the game.
The bullpen was lights-out down the stretch. Starter Smith Bailey allowed just 1 run over 5.1 innings while striking out five and relievers Casey Hintz, Garrett Hicks and Pluta combined for 4.2 scoreless innings. Pluta, who pitched the ninth and tenth, earned the win to move to 2-0 on the season.
Arizona totaled six hits in the win, with White and Cain driving in both runs. White reached base three times and Guzman picked up a key hit in extra innings. The Wildcats stranded 11 runners but made the most of their late-inning chances to secure the victory.
With the win, Arizona improved to 39-18 to earn the Big 12’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The conference title is Arizona’s first since winning the Pac-12 in 2024 and 2021, coming in the Wildcats’ debut year in the Big 12. The Wildcats have now claimed their 12th conference championship.
White, Mihalakis, Pluta and Brendan Summerhill were all named on the All-Tournament Team.
Mason White named Big 12 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player
There was no question who the best player on the field was during Arizona’s championship run in Arlington — shortstop White turned the Big 12 Tournament into his personal showcase.
The Tucson native and third-year Wildcat was named the Big 12 Baseball Championship Most Outstanding Player. Over three games, White reached base in 10-of-14 plate appearances, collected five extra-base hits, scored 7 runs and drove in 7 more.
His defining moment came in the semifinal against No. 1 seed West Virginia, where he went 4-for-4 with 2 home runs, a double, 6 RBIs, and two walks. His 3-run homer in the fifth inning effectively sealed the game while his consistency throughout the tournament provided the Wildcats with a reliable anchor in the middle of the lineup.
During the championship game against TCU, White only recorded a hit, but still proved to play a crucial role. After being hit by a pitch, he advanced to third and scored the go-ahead run on Maddox Mihalakis’ RBI single, helping Arizona secure the 2–1 win.
With his constant effort through his performances, White now sits second all-time in program history with 45 career home runs, solidifying his legacy as one of Arizona baseball’s most impactful postseason performers.
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