After a 3-1 start to the season at the MLB Desert Invitational, Arizona returned to Tucson to take on West Virginia in the home opener Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.
After a back-and-forth battle, the game went to extra innings, where UA fell 6-5 in 11 frames with the winning run being scored on a stolen base — of home — by infielder JJ Wetherholt.
That was not the first time the Mountaineers have stolen home this season, as they did so in the season opener against Georgia Southern.
“We know that’s in their playbook, at least a little bit,” UA shortstop Nik McClaughry said. “You just got to slow the game down, because when you speed it up, you throw it wild. I think just learning from that, pitchers and infielders, we all can slow the game down just a little bit when we see that happening.”
Right-hander Trevor Long was on the mound at the time. His rushed throw sailed past catcher Tommy Splaine.
Wetherholt not only stole home to score the winning run but also went 3 for 6 with a home run and two doubles.
“The Wetherholt kid just took the game over,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “He had great at-bats all night, and the base running was phenomenal. You just tip your cap to him.”
Arizona lost its home opener for the second straight season. The Wildcats had won 18 home openers in a row before dropping the past two.
West Virginia shortstop Tevin Tucker (2) Arizona runner Chase Davis (5) look for the call after Davis slapped an RBI double to right in the first inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
The Wildcats were able to get to West Virginia starter Ben Hampton in the first inning via a triple by McClaughry, followed by a double hit by Chase Davis. Arizona was able to plate one more run off an RBI double by Kiko Romero on a play where Garen Caulfield was thrown out at home.
After Wetherholt tied the game in the third inning with a home run, Arizona took the lead right back the next half inning following some miscommunication between the West Virginia left fielder and center fielder with two outs that allowed Mac Bingham to score after he hit a one-out double.
The third inning started a stretch of four straight with the leadoff hitter reaching base for West Virginia. UA starter TJ Nichols was able to escape the next couple of jams, but he did not have the same success in the sixth inning, allowing a two-run single with two outs to give the lead back to the Mountaineers, 4-3.
Nichols finished the evening allowing four runs on nine hits across 5⅔ innings to go along with six strikeouts and one walk while throwing 102 pitches.
Freshman Casey Hintz took over for Nichols, getting out of the sixth inning before allowing another run to score the next inning to make it 5-3.
Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry discusses how the Wildcats, which started strong but fell in their second game at the recent MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale and Mesa, rebounded to finish the first weekend of the 2023 season 3-1. Video by Devin Homer, Special to the Arizona Daily Star
The Wildcats were finally able to chase Hampton with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the seventh inning after he threw 112 pitches. But they were both left stranded as Tony Bullard flew out to right field.
Arizona threatened again in the eighth inning, and this time the Wildcats came through. In a frame where West Virginia had five relievers throw and the Wildcats brought eight hitters to the plate, they tied the game on a sacrifice fly hit by Mason White and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Davis. Arizona did not pick up a hit in the inning.
Arizona had the tying runner on third base after Garen Caulfield singled, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. But Bingham popped up to third base to end the game.
Arizona will look to rebound in Game 2 of the three-game series Saturday.
“That’s why baseball is nice,” McClaughry said. “You get to play tomorrow, so get ready, win each pitch and take it from there.”
Inside pitch
• McClaughry led the way at the plate for Arizona, picking up three hits and walking once to reach base four times.
• Chris Barraza tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts.
• The game featured a protest by West Virginia over a pitch-clock violation in the bottom of the ninth inning.
• Right-hander Anthony Susac (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to start for Arizona on Saturday. He will face right-hander Blaine Traxel (0-1, 1.80).
Arizona first baseman Kiko Romero, who played locally in high school at Canyon del Oro, discusses joining the Wildcats — a "dream school" for him — for his first season of Division I ball this year after a successful run in the junior college ranks. Video by Devin Homer, Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Photos: University of Arizona falls 6-5 in 11 to West Virginia, NCAA baseball
West Virginia infielder J.J. Wetherholt (27) steals home in front of the swipe of Arizona catcher Tommy Splaine (20) with what turned out to be the winning run in a 6-5 Mountaineer win in 11 innings at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona infielder Nik McClaughry (11) waits outside the dugout for the start of the pre-game ceremonies before first pitch against West Virginia at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) tracks down a grounder by West Virginia infielder J.J. Wetherholt (27) in the first inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
West Virginia shortstop Tevin Tucker (2) Arizona runner Chase Davis (5) look for the call after Davis slapped an RBI double to right in the first inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona runner Garen Caulfield (1) is late to the plate as West Virginia catcher Dayne Leonard (8) waits to apply the tag stopping him from scoring a second RBI on a hit by Kiko Romero in the first inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
West Virginia infielder J.J. Wetherholt (27) gets the helmet tap after smacking a two RBI homer to tie the game at 2-2 in the third inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry (11) makes the toss to second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) for an inning ending double play against West Virginia in the third at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona right fielder Emilio Corona (26) tracks down a pop fly near the line by West Virginia batter Landon Wallace (25) in the fourth inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona pinch hitter Tyler Casagrande tosses his bat and heads to first after drawing a walk to load the bases against West Virginia in the eighth inning at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona third baseman Mason White (24) tags West Virginia runner Caleb McNeely (50) for an inning ending double play on a pop-up bunt attempt in the ninth inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023. McNeely had been the go-ahead run in the time game.
Arizona runner Garen Caulfield (1) swipes second as the the throw gets by West Virginia second baseman Ellis Garcia (23) in the 11th inning of their game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023. Caulfield ended up at third, the tying run, but was stranded in the extra inning loss.
Arizona catcher Tommy Splaine gets a bump from a fan as he heads to the dugout to start against West Virginia at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona's Nik McClaughry, right, gestures to the dugout next to coach Chip Hale after pushing a triple down the right field line against West Virginia to lead off their game at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona's Chris Barraza and the pitching corps get in their band work just before first pitch against West Virginia in the Wildcats' home opener at Hi Corbett Field in February.
