Mason White and Clark Candiotti made sure Arizona would remain atop the Pac-12 standings when the Wildcats return home from Utah.
White homered twice and Candiotti pitched strong innings as the No. 17-ranked Cats defeated the Utes 8-4 Saturday at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
Arizona evened the series and secured its lead in the conference title race through at least Sunday. The Wildcats (31-18) are 18-8 in the Pac-12. Utah (31-17) is 16-10. Oregon State (37-12) was 15-9 entering its game against UCLA on Saturday night.
Mason White, shown during a fall exhibition game, hit a pair of home runs Saturday in Arizona's 8-4 victory over Utah in Salt Lake City.
White (Salpointe Catholic HS) opened the scoring with a 497-foot solo home run in the first inning. He added a two-run shot in the ninth. The sophomore shortstop has 17 homers — 11 more than any other Wildcat.
Freshman first baseman Andrew Cain (Ironwood Ridge HS) hit a three-run homer in the fourth to give Arizona a 5-0 lead. It was Cain’s second home run in as many starts and his fourth of the season.
DH Maddox Mihalakis and catcher Blake McDonald each had three hits for the Wildcats. Mihalakis scored three runs. McDonald drove in a pair.
Arizona baseball's Dawson Netz records a filthy strikeout in the Wildcats' 8-4 win over Utah on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (Courtesy Pac-12 Networks)
Candiotti, the reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, allowed three runs on seven hits across seven frames. He struck out four and walked one in improving to 6-2.
Candiotti didn’t have to deal with Utah leadoff hitter Core Jackson after the first inning. Jackson, who entered Saturday batting .365, got ejected during his first at-bat after arguing that he’d been hit by a pitch. By rule, Jackson also will have to sit out Sunday night’s series finale.
Arizona again will be without left fielder TJ Adams. UA coach Chip Hale told Pac-12 Networks that Adams suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder crashing into the wall Friday.
