LUBBOCK, Texas — Arizona senior shortstop Louis Boyd had 318 career at-bats as a Wildcat when he led off the top of the ninth inning Sunday. None had ended with Boyd circling the bases with a home run.
In what turned out to be his final collegiate plate appearance, Boyd ended that homer-less streak. He deposited a 1-0 pitch from Sam Houston State’s Hayden Wesneski over the left-field wall at Rip Griffin Park.
The solo shot was far too little, too late for the Wildcats, who suffered a season-ending, 9-3 loss to the Bearkats in the Lubbock Regional. But it briefly put a smile on the face of Boyd and his teammates.
“It probably will go down as the most bittersweet moment of my life,” Boyd said. “Pretty crazy to do that – to know that’s the last time I’ll be rounding the bases. It’s tough.”
Boyd, who’s listed at 5-foot-9, 168 pounds, proved to be an invaluable member of the team after transferring from Cochise College. He solidified the defense after becoming a full-time starter last year, and UA suffered without him this year when he missed time due to an elbow injury.
Boyd tore the UCL in his left (non-throwing) elbow on Feb. 26 but returned to play a month later with a large brace on his arm.
He went 2 for 4 Sunday, giving him six multi-hit performances in his last eight games. He also displayed excellent sportsmanship by comforting Sam Houston State’s Robie Rojas after accidentally kicking him in the head and landing on his hand during a stolen-base attempt in the bottom of the seventh.
Asked afterward about Boyd’s contributions to the program, UA coach Jay Johnson said: “We could be here all day. It doesn’t always go like that with player and coach with 35 guys on your team. You love them all, but there’s a couple that rise above everybody else. He’s a special dude. That’s one you wish you could coach forever.”
Soroko and Schnabel
With the game all but out of reach, Johnson gave two departing seniors a chance to pitch in the NCAA Tournament.
With two outs in the seventh, right-hander Luke Soroko entered from the bullpen. Soroko closed out the eighth, retired the first batter he faced in the ninth, then handed the ball to classmate Austin Schnabel. The two combined for 1ª scoreless innings.
Neither right-hander became a mainstay at Arizona. Entering Sunday, they had combined for 23 appearances and 27ª innings this season. Soroko had two saves.
But each brought value to the program in ways that couldn’t be quantified.
“These guys invest a lot,” Johnson said. “In Luke’s case … there’s probably not a better teammate in the world.
“Austin exemplifies work ethic, the way we want it to be. He’s one of the best weight-room guys, one of the best conditioned guys, and he might have a future after this. I hope he does.”
‘A ton of respect’
Arizona and Sam Houston State played each other four times in the past two postseasons, with each winning twice. UA sent the Bearkats home last year; Sam Houston State returned the favor this year.
When he greeted the Wildcats after Sunday’s game, Bearkats coach Matt Deggs didn’t merely wish them good luck.
“I shook all their hands and told them I had a ton of respect for them,” Deggs said. “I love playing those guys, because they play the right way. They’re very passionate. They love baseball over there.”
Inside pitch
- Junior first baseman JJ Matijevic doubled in the ninth in what was likely his final UA at-bat. It was his 30th double of 2017, tying him with Dave Stegman (1976) for the school record.
- Sophomore catcher Cesar Salazar went 2 for 4 with an RBI on Sunday. He went 5 for 13 with five RBIs in three postseason games.
- Junior outfielder Cal Stevenson went 0 for 5, ending his nine-game hitting streak.
- Junior reliever Robby Medel pitched 3ª shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
- Arizona has lost six postseason games under Johnson. Sunday’s defeat was only the second decided by more than one run.
- Sam Houston State hung on for a 9-8 win over Texas Tech later Sunday to set up a regional championship game Monday.
