Arizona won’t repeat its Arlington sweep.
The UA dropped its season opener Friday, falling to Ole Miss 2-1 in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Chip Hale began his UA coaching tenure at Globe Life in 2022, guiding the Wildcats to a 3-0 mark. Now they’re 0-1 for the first time since 2008, ending a streak of 16 consecutive victories in season openers.
No. 21 Arizona put the tying run on third base with one out in the top of the ninth inning but couldn’t score. Neither team got a hit with runners in scoring position (combined 0 for 14). The Wildcats were 0 for 10 with runners on base.
The lack of offense spoiled strong pitching performances from Collin McKinney and Casey Hintz.
McKinney, making his UA debut after transferring from Baylor, allowed one on three hits in 4⅓ innings. That run came home on a sacrifice fly after Hintz relieved McKinney in the bottom of the fifth.
Arizona right-hander Collin McKinney fires to the plate during his UA debut. McKinney allowed one run in 4⅓ innings in a season-opening loss to Ole Miss in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14, 2025.
Hintz then surrendered a home run to Isaac Humphrey to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead. That was the only run allowed by Hintz, who struck out consecutive hitters to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth. Hintz threw a career-high 54 pitches across 3⅔ frames.
The score was 2-1 at that point via a solo home run by Mason White in the top of the inning. The 419-foot blast was the 30th of White’s UA career.
The Wildcats put themselves in position to rally in the top of the ninth. Tommy Splaine and Easton Breyfogle drew back-to-back walks to open the inning. Pinch-hitter TJ Adams then sacrificed them to second and third, bringing up Richie Morales.
Morales, one of Arizona’s best contact hitters, struck out on four pitches, chasing a high fastball from Ole Miss right-hander Connor Spencer.
With first base still open, Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco elected to intentionally walk Brendan Summerhill to set up a right-on-right matchup between Spencer and Garen Caulfield. Caulfield flew out to right field to end the game.
Arizona's Mason White, right, slaps hands with third base coach Toby DeMello after socking a solo home run in the eighth inning of the UA's 2-1 season-opening loss to Ole Miss in the Shriners Children's College Showdown in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.
Arizona managed only two hits in five innings off Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott, who missed most of the previous two seasons because of an elbow injury.
“It was a long road,” Elliott told FloSports after the game. “So much excitement. So much adrenaline. It was a little tough to contain it at times. But I'm just excited to be back.”
The Wildcats averaged 6.5 runs per game last season and were 5-1 when allowing two. Their only loss when allowing two runs came by the same score, 2-1, in a Friday-night game at Oregon.
“That's how Friday nights are sometimes,” Elliott said. “Runs are hard to come by. Just keep your team in it.”
Arizona plays its second game of the tournament Saturday vs. No. 15 Clemson, which defeated No. 17 Oklahoma State 6-5 earlier Friday. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
