Under Arizona alum Chip Hale, the UA baseball team has started a new tradition this year: The Wildcats are singing the school fight song after every victory.
They earned the right to do it twice on opening weekend.
Arizona defeated Northeastern 9-3 Sunday at Hi Corbett Field to win a series that, at least on paper, was supposed to go the other way. The Wildcats were picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 Conference entering the season. The Huskies were ranked 23rd in the country.
“It doesn’t matter. And I think we proved that this weekend,” said UA starter Anthony “Tonko” Susac, who pitched four scoreless innings. “They don’t know the weapons that we have. They don’t understand what we have in the ’pen. They don’t know the changes that we’ve made. They don’t know the young guys that we have, what an impact they have made and what they’re gonna make.
“It’s a totally different team from what it was on paper.”
Arizona is just three games into a 50-plus-game season, and a lot can and will change between now and June. But it was a promising start for a team that’s breaking in several new position players and has completely revamped its approach to pitching under first-year assistant Kevin Vance.
The Wildcats enter Tuesday’s game vs. Utah Tech with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Their season-long marks last year were 5.97 and 1.62.
“I’m really happy for the team,” Susac said. “Getting two wins against a ranked team is gonna be huge.
“That’s a really good team. It’s a really gritty, hard-nosed team, and they’re going to be good down the road. It’s gonna help out our RPI a lot.
“Any win’s a good win. Even our loss (8-7 on Saturday), we battled. Our team looks really good.”
Susac battled out of a few jams in his four innings. In the first, he stranded a runner at third base. In the third, with runners on first and second and one out, he got projected first-round pick Mike Sirota to ground into an inning-ending double play. In the fourth, Susac stranded a runner at third by striking out consecutive hitters.
After the second punchout, Susac turned to the UA dugout and let out a yell. He didn’t know his outing was over at that point, but it was an important performance for a highly-ranked recruit who struggled for most of his first two seasons.
“It’s a huge deal,” Hale said. “We always talk about bringing young guys into soft landings. But I think after what’s gone on the past few years with him, to have a clean first one like this was special.”
Susac had thrown only 50 pitches at that point, but several of them were stressful. That led to the decision to pull him and hand the ball to Cam Walty, who allowed two runs in three innings and was credited with the win.
“I don’t mind it,” said Susac, who had never thrown so many innings without allowing a run in his UA career. “I’m willing to take any role that they want. I’m gonna listen to the coaches. It’s not my decision to keep me in the game or take me out. Whatever helps the team win. I’m happy I did my part.”
The UA offense gave Susac and the staff plenty of breathing room. The Wildcats scored five runs in the second inning and three in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead.
Sophomore left fielder Brendan Summerhill went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Senior right fielder Emilio Corona hit a two-run homer, his second long ball of the season.
Outfielder Brendan Summerhill, shown during a fall scrimmage, went 3 for 4 in the Wildcats’ series-clinching win over Northeastern and is batting .385 (5 for 13) through three games.
“We like to bring it a little bit on Sundays,” Summerhill said. “All of our guys came together, and we played like a team.”
They sang as one, too. Hale posted the words to “Bear Down Arizona” in the fall to make sure the players knew the lyrics.
“I think it’s awesome,” Susac said. “School pride is always great. I’m really happy that I’m here. It’s been a great three years. Always happy to sing the fight song.”
Inside pitch
Tommy Splaine‘s RBI triple in the fourth inning was the fourth of his career and his first since 2022. Splaine had six extra-base hits last season — all doubles. Splaine is batting a team-best .417 (5 of 12).
Summerhill and Corona are tied for the team lead with six RBIs apiece. Summerhill has a team-high three doubles.
After hosting Utah Tech at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Arizona plays 11 consecutive games away from Hi Corbett Field. The Wildcats’ next home game after Tuesday is vs. ASU on March 15.
UA swimming legend and current assistant coach Amanda Beard threw out the first pitch.
