After Tuesday’s back-and-forth win over Grand Canyon, Arizona looked to find some more momentum in this weekend’s series at Hi Corbett Field against Oregon. Those hopes ended quickly Friday night as a seven-run second inning for the Ducks led to a 15-3 loss for Arizona and its seventh straight defeat in Pac-12 play.
“They had a good plan, they were determined to stay in the middle of the field and not try to do too much, and it worked,” said UA associate head coach Dave Lawn, who was filling in for the suspended Chip Hale.
“I refuse to sit there and be down on this group of guys, particularly the pitchers, and think that they’re not what they were the first six weeks of the year.”
Arizona has allowed five or more runs in 10 of its past 11 games. The Wildcats’ record during that span is 4-7.
Hale was suspended for two games after getting ejected in Tuesday’s game against GCU. Lawn filled in as the manager Friday and will do so again Saturday before Hale returns Sunday.
Right-hander TJ Nichols’ recent struggles continued as he lasted just 1⅓ innings. After Nichols allowed one run in the first inning, Oregon brought 12 hitters to the plate in the second. After a leadoff home run, Nichols allowed six of the next seven hitters to reach base before he was removed from the game.
Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry sprawls out but can’t get a glove on a single up the middle by Oregon batter Jacob Walsh in the fifth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field on March 31, 2023. The Ducks drove home five runs in the inning to go up 13-2 on the Wildcats.
Nichols allowed eight runs on six hits to go along with one strikeout and two walks. Across his past three starts against UCLA, Arizona State and Oregon, his season ERA has ballooned from 3.86 to 7.13.
Jackson Kent followed Nichols in relief, tossing 3⅓ innings out of the bullpen. After he retired seven straight hitters, Oregon got to Kent the second time through with a five-run fifth inning.
The good news, if any: Arizona has a quick turnaround with Game 2 of the series set for 6 p.m. Saturday.
“I told the team — very brief, it’s not my club, it’s Chip’s club — but I just told them, ‘Hey man, this game will bring out the best in you and the worst in you. It’s easy when it’s easy, and it’s hard when it’s hard.’ It’s been hard lately, but it doesn’t mean it has to be that way starting tomorrow,” Lawn said.
Earlier this season, Oregon lost 16-0 to UCLA. Since then, the Ducks have won seven of nine.
“I said, ‘Did they look like they lost 16-0 against UCLA?’ ... That’s how quick it can turn,” Lawn said.
Arizona fell to 14-10, 3-7 in Pac-12 play. Oregon is 16-7, 4-3.
“Seven losses now in the Pac-12, I feel like it’s starting to get personal for us,” said catcher Cameron LaLiberte, who had two of Arizona’s five hits. “We need to start (on) fire and come back and start a good groove.”
Arizona runner Cameron LaLiberte gets into the bag as the pickoff throw gets away from Oregon infielder Dominic Hellman in the fourth inning of their Pac-12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field on March 31, 2023. LaLiberte ended up on second with the error.
Inside pitch
Left-hander Bradon Zastrow (2-1, 4.71) will start for Arizona on Saturday.
Right-handers Tony Pluta, George Arias Jr. and Casey Hintz followed Kent out of the bullpen Friday night.
Nik McClaughry and Garen Caulfield each had one RBI for the Wildcats.
Japan comes out victorious in a 3-2 win over the United States during the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday.
Photos: Arizona Wildcats go down early, can't claw back in a 15-3 loss to Oregon, Pac 12 baseball | March 31, 2023
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona runner Cameron LaLiberte (50) gets into the bag as the pickoff throw gets away from Oregon infielder Dominic Hellman (45) in the fourth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023. LaLiberte ended up on second with the error.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry (11) sprawls out but can’t get a glove on a single up the middle by Oregon batter Jacob Walsh (25) in the fifth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023. The Ducks drove home five runs in the inning to go up 13-2 on the Wildcats.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona right fielder Tyler Casagrande’s (13) desperation dive comes up short of snagging a sinking liner in the gap by Oregon batter Colby Shade (15) for a two RBI triple and 5-1 Duck lead in the second inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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A line of little leaguers gets autographs from Arizona first baseman Kiko Romero (12) just before the Wildcats take on Oregon in a Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry (11) keeps the tag on Oregon runner Rikuu Nishida (56) just in case after Nishida swiped second in the first inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Oregon shortstop Colby Shade (15) snares a shot up the middle by Arizona’s Tyler Casagrande (13) for a double play that drove home a Wildcat run in the second inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona shortstop Nik McClaughry (11) hops over Oregon runner Tanner Smith (31) on an inning ending fielder’s choice in the fourth at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona third baseman Mason White (24) shows off the ball as the third base umpire calls Oregon runner Rikuu Nishida (56) out on a double steal attempt in the fifth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023. The call was challenged and upheld on the review.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona outfielder Chase Davis (5) waits in the dugout as the in the hole hitter against Oregon in the fifth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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A fan and her pup try to keep warm in the late innings of the Arizona Wildcats Bark In The Park game against Oregon at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) gets a good hop to field a ball from Oregon batter Tanner Smith (31) in the seventh inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Maya and old English bulldog waits for the first pitch of the Arizona Wildcats Bark In The Park game against Oregon at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., March 31, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oregon, Pac 12 baseball
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Arizona's Chase Davis flips his bat on his way to first after drawing a leadoff walk against Oregon in the second inning of their Pac-12 game at Hi Corbett Field on March 31, 2023.
