The Arizona Wildcats’ months-long baseball season may well come down to the final game.
Oregon topped the UA 2-1 in Eugene on Friday, setting up Saturday’s series finale — one that could determine the Wildcats’ postseason fate. Arizona is 33-22 overall and 13-16 in Pac-12 play, good for seventh place in the league. A win Saturday would move the team closer to the NCAA cutoff; a loss would almost certainly end their hopes of a playoff berth.
The team may look to Friday’s game — and more specifically, Friday’s finish — as a turning point.
Arizona was trailing by one run in the ninth inning when Cameron Cannon reached on an error and Alfonso Rivas and Nick Quintana were hit by pitches, loading the bases with no outs. Cesar Salazar struck out swinging and Matt Fraizer went down looking, bringing up Jacob Blas. Blas, a .300 hitter, flew out to center field to end the game.
1️⃣3️⃣9️⃣ pitches and a complete game for @kenyonyovan21. He takes the @OpusBank #12Best moment. pic.twitter.com/r1qPZOpDEP
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 26, 2018
The Wildcats got on the board in the seventh inning, when Salazar belted a game-tying solo home run to right field. The UA slugger’s blast broke up a no-hitter. Oregon retook the lead in the bottom half, when Kyle Kassser ripped an RBI single to center field.
The teams will play at 3 p.m. Saturday.
