Arizona baseball’s ninth inning rally Sunday was too little too late as the Wildcats fell to Texas Tech, losing the fifth of their last six games.
Arizona (8-15, 2-4 Big 12) dropped its first home three-game series against Texas Tech (15-8, 4-2) since 1974, falling 12-10 in Sunday’s rubber match.
Beau Sylvester (18) matched a career-high with three hits, going 3-5 with a run scored vs. Texas Tech in Tucson on Sunday.
Arizona struck first on Sunday when freshman first baseman Tony Lira hit a two-run home run in the first inning.
However, the Red Raiders responded with five runs in the second inning. Freshman utility Jesse Rusinek and graduate student utility Robin Villeneuve hit RBI singles, then sophomore infielder Connor Shouse drew a bases loaded walk before freshman Linkin Garcia hit a two-run single.
In the third, UA got three runs back when senior infielder Maddox Mihalakis hit a two-run single and freshman Jackson Forbes got a sacrifice RBI on a bunt.
However, the Red Raiders tacked on another run in the sixth on a bases loaded walk.
In the bottom of the sixth, Forbes and freshman utility Nate Novitske each hit solo home runs.
Texas Tech secured the series with six runs in the seventh. They scored on a wild pitch, then Shouse hit a three-run homer, Garcia hit an RBI double and junior utility Caden Ferraro hit an RBI single.
In this last at bat, Forbes hit a two-RBI double and Lira got an RBI the rough way by getting hit with the bases loaded.
Freshman Benton Hickman (0-2) took the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, one hit, one walk and a wild pitch over two-thirds of an inning.
UA has dropped its first two Big 12 series, at Utah and then at home to Texas Tech.
Arizona evened the series at a game a piece on Saturday night with a 14-6 win. The victory snapped the Wildcats’ three-game losing streak.
UA tallied season highs in runs and hits (17), all nine starters got a hit and six Wildcats had multi hit games.
Texas Tech junior outfielder Logan Hughes opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the first.
However, Arizona responded with a couple runs in the first inning when junior utility Andrew Cain hit a two-run triple.
In the second, Texas Tech junior catcher Matt Quintanar hit an RBI double.
UA responded in the home half of the second with an RBI single by Novitske, an RBI triple by freshman utility player Caleb Danzeisen and an RBI double from Mihalakis.
The next inning Novitske drove in another run.
Quintanar hit a solo home run in the fourth but in the Arizona fourth frame they added four more runs. Sophomore catcher Roman Meyers hit an RBI double, Forbes hit an RBI triple and then scored on a wild pitch.
Arizona's Jackson Forbes (44) went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored vs. Texas Tech on March 21 in Tucson.
Arizona had eight extra bases hits on the day, including three triples.
In the seventh, Meyers drove in another run.
Sophomore Smith Bailey (3-0) earned the win over five innings of work, giving up nine hits, three walks and six earned runs.
Texas Tech took the series opener 9-5 on Friday after the Wildcats stranded 13 runners and the Red Raiders scored five runs late.
Arizona had 10 hits, eight walks and all nine Wildcat starters reached base at least once. Six UA batters got on base at least twice.
Texas Tech jumped ahead 3-0 in the third off a sacrifice fly, a Shouse single and an error but the Wildcats responded in the home half of the inning with a couple runs. Mihalakis drove in a run with a single and Arizona added another on an error.
The Wildcats took the lead an inning later via RBI singles from Danzeisen and Lira.
After both teams scored a run in the fifth from a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly, the Red Raiders pulled away with a Shouse RBI triple, a single and an RBI double from junior center Kyeler Thompson.
Junior Maclain Roberts (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs in one inning.
UA closes out this five-game home stand with a Tuesday date with Grand Canyon (8-17, 0-3 Mountain West). On March 3 the Lopes beat the Wildcats 7-5 at Hi Corbett but Washington State swept GCU on the Palouse over the weekend in Mountain West play.
Inside pitch
– Friday’s game was 1976 Night and members of the UA’s first national championship team were honored before the game.
– Before Friday’s game Arizona honored All-American closer Tony Pluta with induction into the Legends Plaza Wall of Fame. The 2025 NCBWA Stopper of the Year is out for his senior season with an elbow injury.
– Arizona’s record against Texas Tech dropped to 12-9. The Wildcats are 10-4 against the Red Raiders at home and UA last won a series against Texas Tech in Tucson in 1974 (3-0).
– Wildcat senior pitcher J.T. Drake, who transferred from Texas Tech, did not make an appearance in the series.
– UA freshman Gavin Triezenberg recorded his first college hit on Saturday.
– Grand Canyon features four players who went to school in Tucson.
Junior infielder Troy Sanders went to Catalina Foothills.
First baseman/outfielder Trevor Schmidt redshirted for Arizona in 2023, then in fall 2024 went to LSU and then played two seasons at Fullerton College before transferring to GCU.
Junior catcher Kade Huff was on the UA’s roster in 2023 and 2024, playing in four games a couple years ago.
Senior pitcher/catcher Luke Moeller played for Arizona in 2023, making one appearance before transferring to Yavapai College and then going to Grand Canyon after one season in Prescott.
