Beating a team three times is hard enough, taking all four is even tougher. And after cranking out 21 runs the night before, Arizona’s offense looked like it didn’t have anything left in the tank for the finale against Pepperdine.

Down 3-0 and held scoreless through the first five innings, despite getting the leadoff man on each time, the Wildcats finally broke through to beat the Waves 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field. It was their 11^th win in the last 12 games after an 0-3 start and improved their home record to 8-0, the best start to a season since winning the first 10 at Hi Corbett in 2018.

“This probably helps us a heck of a lot more of this game than last night’s game, because we’re able to battle back,” UA coach Chip Hale said, referring to Saturday’s 21-2 victory. “We talked to them last night, a lot, about that game’s over, we got to move on.”

Arizona (11-4) couldn’t do much against Pepperdine starter Dylan Stewart beyond getting the first guy on, going 0 for 14 with runners on base. The story changed once the Waves (3-13) went to the bullpen, with the UA loading the bases to start the 6^th on two hits and a walk.

Adonys Guzman came off the bench and brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 but that was it for the rally. In the 7^th, however, after not getting the leadoff guy on the Wildcats had the next four guys reach, with Garen Caulfield tripling to right-center on the first pitch he saw with the bases loaded for a 4-3 lead.

“My family and I call it the honey hole,” Caulfield said of the right-center gap. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I consider myself a good gap to gap hitter. That’s my approach.”

Maddox Mihalakis then brought Caulfield in with a sac fly to make it 5-3.

Freshman right-hander Smith Bailey allowed three runs in 5.2 innings, striking out six but walking three. He had only issued one walk in his previous three starts.

“I thought there was a time there where he was sort of wasn’t his best and I thought he turned it on towards the end, and he had much better stuff,” Hale said.

Garrett Hicks came on to finish the 6^th and then threw a scoreless 7^th to earn the win, making him 3-0 in a team-high eight relief appearances. The junior college transfer didn’t become a full-time pitcher until his time at Pima College.

“Just kind of get in there and compete,” Hicks said. “And when you compete, it’s gonna go your way most time. If it doesn’t, it’s baseball.”

Hunter Alberini threw a perfect 8^th and then Tony Pluta pitched the 9^th for his second save. Pluta allowed a pair of 2-out singles, doubling the number of baserunners he’s allowed this season, but kept his ERA at 0.00.

“I think the pitch stuff is rounding into shape, and guys are kind of finding their roles,” Hale said.

Arizona continues its season-long 9-game homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT against ASU. It’s a nonconference game—the ones that count toward the Big 12 standings are April 4-6 in Phoenix—but no less important.

“It’s a big deal for us,” Hale said. “We want to win. We’re going to play to win. We’re going to pitch our best guys.”

ASU is 12-4 after sweeping Gonzaga over the weekend. The Sun Devils took two of three in Tucson last season with Arizona winning the final game of the series and then a midweek at ASU.

• Attorney General Kris Mayes informed Arizona schools that they generally do not have to allow immigration officials entry to nonpublic areas of campus without a valid warrant.
• Mayes emphasized that all students, regardless of immigration status, have a right to a free public education in Arizona.
• The guidance comes after the Trump administration rescinded a policy that largely prohibited immigration enforcement at “sensitive” locations, including schools.

Arizona’s Democratic attorney general has issued guidance to K-12 schools and colleges following the Trump administration’s rescission of a policy that had largely barred immigration enforcement at schools.

In a letter sent last week, Attorney General Kris Mayes addressed what she described as “one of the most important and frequent questions right now”: whether schools must allow immigration officials to enter nonpublic areas of campus.  

“The answer to that question will frequently be ‘no,’” Mayes wrote.  

Mayes wrote that except in emergencies, schools should “confirm that the law enforcement officer is acting pursuant to a valid judicial warrant” if federal immigration authorities “seek access to a student while on school grounds.” That warrant must be “signed by a neutral judge or magistrate based on a finding of probable cause.”

Schools are not required to permit entry to immigration officials based on ICE administrative arrest warrants, which are frequently used by federal immigration officers to perform their duties, she said. Mayes added that schools generally may not release students’ personally identifiable information unless in response to a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.  

Mayes noted in her guidance that all students in the U.S. are entitled to a free public education, regardless of immigration status. That right was established by the 1982 Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe. The Arizona Constitution also guarantees access to a free public education for all children between ages 6 and 21 who reside in the state, Mayes wrote.  

Mayes advised schools to “proactively plan for how to respond to the possibility of federal immigration enforcement” and “clearly communicate” the plans to students and parents.  

“Confusion itself can cause great harm — leading to fear and changes in behavior, such as not attending school,” Mayes wrote.  

Mayes’ advice echoes guidance that has been given to schools by other Democratic attorneys general and advocates nationwide in response to President Donald Trump’s threats of heightened immigration enforcement.  

Trump’s Department of Homeland Security in January rescinded a long-standing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy that had largely prohibited immigration enforcement at or near “sensitive” locations like schools and churches. Lawsuits have since been filed to challenge the policy change, including by Denver Public Schools. A federal judge has temporarily blocked ICE enforcement at or near places of worship in response to a lawsuit from Quaker groups.

Some Arizona school districts and governing boards quickly reacted to the rescission of the sensitive locations policy. Among them was the Phoenix Union High School District, which in January told families that the district’s campuses were “safe zones” for all students “regardless of citizenship status.”  

Phoenix Union’s Governing Board also adopted a resolution outlining plans for responding to requests by ICE for school access or student information. It stated the district does not collect information on students’ immigration status. Governing boards of Phoenix-area school districts, including Fowler Elementary, Balsz Elementary, Cartwright Elementary and Tempe Union have adopted similar resolutions.  

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a Republican, said he does not think ICE agents will enter Arizona schools to detain children. Horne said he thinks the policy change was intended to allow immigration officials to enter a school “if someone they want to arrest is hiding there.” He cited Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman’s statement that the policy change would mean “criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.” 

Horne said in January that the Arizona Department of Education, which he runs, was not planning to issue any formal guidance to schools related to immigration policy changes.

Will Arizona higher ed institutions cooperate with immigration officials?

A student group at Arizona State University named College Republicans United in January hosted a tabling event on the Tempe campus, calling on other students to report their peers to ICE. Several lawmakers and hundreds of students and community members called for the event to be barred from campus, but it was ultimately permitted by university officials who said they disagreed with the sentiment, but would not stop the group from meeting or discipline its members. 

“Encouraging ASU students to make indiscriminate complaints to law enforcement about fellow students is not in keeping with the principles which underlie our academic community,” a statement from an ASU spokesperson read. 

The handful of people with the club talked to very few students and ultimately left after being surrounded by hundreds of people marching in a peaceful protest.  

A university spokesperson confirmed that no ICE agents had been on ASU’s campus. They said, typically, immigration officials would have a warrant and would coordinate with university police beforehand. 

“It is the same way we would work with any law enforcement personnel that came onto our campuses,” they said. 

The University of Arizona directed school employees to cooperate with non-university law enforcement in a broad communication about changing federal guidelines in higher education. An excerpt of the expansive document specifically told employees not to ”physically block or interfere with their entry or actions” and contact university police. 

Another section specified that the university will release personal information “when legally required or in response to a valid court order, subpoena or warrant.” UA officials also highlighted existing resources for international faculty, staff and students. 

The Maricopa Community College District sent immigration-related guidance to all employees in early February, according to a statement from the district. Each of the district’s colleges has designated people who have received training and can provide direction and support on responding to immigration inquiries, the statement said.

Attorney general’s guidance notes bullying prevention in schools 

José Patiño of Aliento, an advocacy group that provides support for the immigrant community, said his organization has focused on reaffirming students’ right to a public K-12 education regardless of their citizenship status — something he said many families and educators do not know.  

Most of the group’s work focuses on schools in Maricopa County, prioritizing ways to make students from immigrant families feel more included and prevent bullying based on a student’s immigration status.  

Mayes’ guidance specifically highlighted bullying and harassment, noting laws that bar harassment on the basis of race and national origin. School district governing boards are required to supply ways for students and parents to report bullying anonymously, according to Arizona law. 

While Patiño believes it’s unlikely for ICE agents to enter schools, he said he’s alarmed by growing division or the possibility that anyone would try to prevent a child from going to school. 

“It just feels like I don’t recognize this country anymore,” Patiño said. 

Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.

Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.

GOODYEAR, Arizona − The Cincinnati Reds (7-6-1) outlasted the Arizona Diamondbacks (6-8-1) on Saturday in a high-scoring, 9-8 win played before a Goodyear Ballpark sellout crowd of 10,311.

Cincinnati Reds use nine pitchers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Nick Lodolo, the Reds’ originally-scheduled starter on Saturday, ended up getting his day’s work in on a backfield at the Reds’ Player Development Complex. Reds manager Terry Francona said after the game Lodolo threw 63 pitches.

About a mile away at Goodyear Ballpark, Cincinnati opted to go with a bullpen game, and by “bullpen game,” that meant a new pitcher each inning.

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Bryan Shaw threw the Reds’ only scoreless and hitless frame on the day. Lyon Richardson, Taylor Rogers, Joe LaSorsa and Lenny Torres allowed at least one hit apiece but kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard.

Francona also deployed Ian Gibaut (one run allowed), Alex Young (four runs via a grand slam), Sam Moll (one run) and Luis Mey (a two-run homer) for an inning apiece.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Austin Hays key Reds’ big fourth inning

The Reds batted around in the fourth inning and plated five runs to take a 6-1 lead.

The Reds’ onslaught started when Christian Encarnacion-Strand pumped a two-run homer into the grass berm in left field. That followed Jake Fraley’s leadoff hit-by-pitch.

Hitting from the right side of the plate, Elly De La Cruz singled to drive in a run. Then, Austin Hays singled up the middle to drive in two more runs.

Hays went 2-for-3 at the plate after Reds’ manager Terry Francona heaped praise on him during his morning meeting with reporters. So far, it looks like the offseason move to bring Hays in is working out.

Cincinnati would later go ahead for good in the sixth inning. The Reds sent eight batters to the plate and, aided by three walks and a hit-by-pitch, tacked on three runs to go back in front, 9-6.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suarez still has plenty of power

Eugenio Suarez, the former Reds slugger, made life difficult for his former club on Saturday. He struck out in both of his first two at-bats but in the top of the fifth inning lined a grand slam to left field in front of a packed, bipartisan Goodyear Ballpark. That cut the Reds’ lead to 6-5.

Stat of the day, courtesy of Terry Francona

According to the Reds’ skipper, Cincinnati batters ran 15 full counts and reached base in 10 of those plate appearances. Needless to say, Francona was very happy with that.

“That was really good to say,” Francona said.

Next up for the Reds: A trip to Tempe to face the Los Angeles Angels

Cincinnati will head east from Goodyear on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe-Diablo Stadium (4:10 p.m. ET; Radio: 700WLW). The Reds’ Graham Ashcraft is scheduled to face Jack Kochanowicz. Presumptive Reds closer Alexis Diaz is scheduled to pitch, which would mark his debut appearance this spring. RH Graham Ashcraft vs. RH Jack Kochanowicz.