When shortstop Mason White launched 3 home runs during Arizona’s dominant 14-4 NCAA Regional victory over Utah Valley University — a night that also saw the team set a school record with eight total homers and 14 extra base hits — it was not just about the raw power. That performance became the signature moment of a season where the Wildcats made history, captured their first Big 12 tournament title and earned a trip back to Omaha, Nebraska for the 19th time in program history.
In Arizona’s inaugural Big 12 campaign, the program posted an overall record of 44-21 and 18-12 in conference play, finishing fourth in the conference and 21st nationally. The road to Omaha, however, was one for the ages.
Heading into the season, the Wildcats had high expectations, coming in ranked 21st in the nation with many crucial players returning to the roster.
The team got off to a rocky start, after opening the season 0-3 at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas in February. Arizona fell to the likes of the University of Mississippi, No. 15 Clemson University and a 13-1 run-rule loss to the University of Louisville.
Following the disappointing start, Arizona bounced back by stringing together a seven-game win streak. During that span, the Wildcats run-ruled the University of New Mexico 10-0 on and swept the 2024 West Coast Conference tournament champions, the University of San Diego, all at Hi Corbett Field. At the same time, Arizona upset No. 1 Texas A&M University and No. 18 Mississippi State University at the Astros Foundation College Classic in Houston, Texas.
In the month of March, the Wildcats went 14-4, sweeping Pepperdine University, including a 21-2 victory that marked a season-high for most runs in a game. The Wildcats continued their winning efforts, sweeping their season series against the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University. Arizona also beat the University of Kansas and ASU at home in lone matchups.
The reigning Pac-12 conference champions went 16-11 in their final 27 games and finished with a conference-best 24-6 home record after winning series against Oklahoma State University, BYU, TCU, University of Houston and No. 24 ASU.
Arizona cruised their way to this year’s Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship game and edged out a 2-1 victory on May 24, over No. 24 TCU in 10 innings, securing the program’s fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Fourth-year head coach Chip Hale led the Wildcats as the second seed in the Eugene regional. In the first matchup against the third seed, California Polytechnic State University, Arizona held on to a nail-biting 3-2 victory on May 30. The wins did not stop there, as Arizona overpowered Utah Valley with pure offensive dominance at the plate. The monstrous 14-4 victory drew a rematch against Cal Poly in the regional final, where the Wildcats continued to rake at the plate and on the mound, punching out 10 and finishing with 13 hits, all while shutting out the Mustangs 14-0 to open the month of June.
Making their sixth super regional appearance in program history, the Wildcats had their back against the wall early, dropping the opening game 18-2 to the No. 1 overall seed, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Big 12 tournament champions responded by outlasting a 10-8 victory, involving six lead changes in game two, forcing a winner-take-all game three.
The Wildcats trailed the Tar Heels 3-1 in the eighth inning, looking as though all hope was lost. Arizona clawed its way back and took a 4-3 lead through the power of small ball. The 4-3 lead was good enough to send Hale’s squad back to the College World Series for the first time since 2021.
Despite winning eight of the last nine games on the road to Omaha, the Wildcats failed to continue their best season in the Hale era. The team lost the opening game 7-4 to Coastal Carolina University and suffered a tough 8-3 loss to Louisville, bringing Arizona’s time in Omaha to a brief end.
Looking ahead
Not long after the Wildcats’ early exit in the CWS, Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois announced a 4-year extension to head coach Hale, keeping the former Wildcat signed through 2030.
“This extension represents a shared vision for the future of Arizona baseball, one built on excellence, development and the pursuit of championships,” Hale said. “I’m excited to continue leading this program and build on the proud tradition of Wildcat baseball.”
“He [Hale] is a proud Wildcat, a proven leader and a tremendous ambassador for the University of Arizona,” Reed-Francois said. “With Chip leading the way, we are well-positioned to compete for championships and continue developing exceptional young men on and off the field.”
Nine of Arizona’s core players were selected in this year’s MLB draft, the school’s most since 2008 and tied for the third most in the country, headlined by junior outfielder Brendan Summerhill going 42nd overall to the Tampa Bay Rays. In the second round, the Cleveland Guardians selected junior outfielder Aaron Walton with the 66th overall pick. White, catcher Adonys Guzman, pitchers Julian Tonghini, Hunter Alberini, Casey Hintz, Raul Garayzar and Michael Hilker Jr. all were selected on day two of the draft.
The subtractions did not stop there as former assistant coach Kevin Vance was named head coach of San Diego State University, making the San Diego native the seventh head coach in SDSU history. During Vance’s tenure in Tucson, he played a vital role in the impact of Tony Pluta, shaping the junior into one of the most shutdown closers in the land. Pluta had a remarkable season, earning this year’s National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year.
Hale will have quite the busy offseason retooling the roster, starting from the coaching staff and to the players. The 1986 NCAA National Champion has experience recruiting through the transfer portal, bringing in junior pitcher Christian Coppola. Hale, however, stands out through high school recruiting, bringing in major impact stars after landing a top 25 recruiting class in consecutive years. The question that remains, however, is how many players Hale can retain on the roster to make another deep and lasting run.
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