The University of Arizona baseball team launched its fall ball schedule with an exhilarating 16-6 comeback victory in an exhibition game during the 14th annual Mexican Baseball Fiesta held at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Facing the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, a known powerhouse in the Mexican Pacific League, the Wildcats marked the official start of their fall schedule as they prepare for their final exhibition matches and the season ahead.

This year’s Mexican Baseball Fiesta ran from Oct. 2-5, ahead of Arizona’s exhibition match against Pima Community College next Friday. The Wildcats played at 8 p.m., highlighting the second game of a doubleheader.

Despite a rough beginning, with Arizona trailing 4-0 after the first inning and facing a 6-1 deficit midway through the game, the Wildcats managed to shift the momentum in their favor.

The keys to the turnaround in the game were several costly mistakes made by the Naranjeros de Hermosillo.

Defensively, the Naranjeros committed numerous fielding errors, which enabled Arizona to get runners on base. Additionally, Hermosillo’s pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, issuing multiple walks to the Wildcats’ batters and compounding their team’s difficulties.

These factors paved the way for Arizona’s impressive rally, culminating in a decisive 16–6 win.

Arizona’s next exhibition game is Friday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. MST against Pima and will be played at Hi Corbett Field.

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