After a 3-1 begin to the season on the MLB Desert Invitational, Arizona returned to Tucson to tackle West Virginia within the dwelling opener Friday evening at Hello Corbett Discipline.
After a back-and-forth battle, the sport went to further innings, the place UA fell 6-5 in 11 frames with the successful run being scored on a stolen base — of dwelling — by infielder JJ Wetherholt.
That was not the primary time the Mountaineers have stolen dwelling this season, as they did so within the season opener in opposition to Georgia Southern.
“We all know that’s of their playbook, a minimum of a little bit bit,” UA shortstop Nik McClaughry mentioned. “You simply received to sluggish the sport down, as a result of whenever you velocity it up, you throw it wild. I believe simply studying from that, pitchers and infielders, all of us can sluggish the sport down just a bit bit after we see that taking place.”
Proper-hander Trevor Lengthy was on the mound on the time. His rushed throw sailed previous catcher Tommy Splaine.
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Wetherholt not solely stole dwelling to attain the successful run but additionally went 3 for six with a house run and two doubles.
“The Wetherholt child simply took the sport over,” Arizona coach Chip Hale mentioned. “He had nice at-bats all evening, and the bottom operating was phenomenal. You simply tip your cap to him.”
Arizona misplaced its dwelling opener for the second straight season. The Wildcats had received 18 dwelling openers in a row earlier than dropping the previous two.
Arizona baseball coach Chip Hale discusses what he realized about his crew — each on the mound and on the plate — throughout the Wildcats’ 3-1 begin to the season on the current MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale and Mesa. Forward of Arizona going through West Virginia to open its dwelling slate, Hale mentioned he is excited to see his offense begin clicking prior to later, and added that he was happy with Arizona’s pitching on the MLB occasion. Video by Devin Homer, Particular to the Arizona Every day Star
The Wildcats have been in a position to get to West Virginia starter Ben Hampton within the first inning by way of a triple by McClaughry, adopted by a double hit by Chase Davis. Arizona was in a position to plate yet one more run off an RBI double by Kiko Romero on a play the place Garen Caulfield was thrown out at dwelling.
After Wetherholt tied the sport within the third inning with a house run, Arizona took the lead proper again the subsequent half inning following some miscommunication between the West Virginia left fielder and heart fielder with two outs that allowed Mac Bingham to attain after he hit a one-out double.
The third inning began a stretch of 4 straight with the leadoff hitter reaching base for West Virginia. UA starter TJ Nichols was in a position to escape the subsequent couple of jams, however he didn’t have the identical success within the sixth inning, permitting a two-run single with two outs to present the lead again to the Mountaineers, 4-3.
Nichols completed the night permitting 4 runs on 9 hits throughout 5⅔ innings to associate with six strikeouts and one stroll whereas throwing 102 pitches.
Freshman Casey Hintz took over for Nichols, getting out of the sixth inning earlier than permitting one other run to attain the subsequent inning to make it 5-3.
Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry discusses how the Wildcats, which began sturdy however fell of their second recreation on the current MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale and Mesa, rebounded to complete the primary weekend of the 2023 season 3-1. Video by Devin Homer, Particular to the Arizona Every day Star
The Wildcats have been lastly in a position to chase Hampton with two runners in scoring place and two outs within the seventh inning after he threw 112 pitches. However they have been each left stranded as Tony Bullard flew out to proper subject.
Arizona threatened once more within the eighth inning, and this time the Wildcats got here by. In a body the place West Virginia had 5 relievers throw and the Wildcats introduced eight hitters to the plate, they tied the sport on a sacrifice fly hit by Mason White and a bases-loaded stroll drawn by Davis. Arizona didn’t decide up a success within the inning.
Arizona had the tying runner on third base after Garen Caulfield singled, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. However Bingham popped as much as third base to finish the sport.
Arizona will look to rebound in Sport 2 of the three-game sequence Saturday.
“That’s why baseball is sweet,” McClaughry mentioned. “You get to play tomorrow, so prepare, win every pitch and take it from there.”
Inside pitch
• McClaughry led the way in which on the plate for Arizona, choosing up three hits and strolling as soon as to achieve base 4 occasions.
• Chris Barraza tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts.
• The sport featured a protest by West Virginia over a pitch-clock violation within the backside of the ninth inning.
• Proper-hander Anthony Susac (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to begin for Arizona on Saturday. He’ll face right-hander Blaine Traxel (0-1, 1.80).
Arizona first baseman Kiko Romero, who performed regionally in highschool at Canyon del Oro, discusses becoming a member of the Wildcats — a “dream faculty” for him — for his first season of Division I ball this yr after a profitable run within the junior faculty ranks. Video by Devin Homer, Particular to the Arizona Every day Star