Ahead of what’s likely his last series against Arizona State, Arizona junior shortstop Mason White was asked to pick his favorite memory from the rivalry.
White chose last year’s 5-3 win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium — not the 20-0 drubbing in April 2023 at Hi Corbett Field.
Nothing is more satisfying than winning on the road — especially when you’re facing adversity or in the midst of a rough stretch.
The Wildcats had won three straight heading into last year’s midweek game at ASU — but were well aware that the Sun Devils had taken two of three from them earlier in the season.
Arizona enters this weekend’s series, which runs Friday-Sunday in Phoenix, in a bit of a funk. The Wildcats (20-8, 6-3 Big 12) have lost four of their past seven games on the heels of a 10-game winning streak. ASU (20-9, 7-2) has won four in a row and six of its past eight.
White, who’s expected to be selected in this year’s MLB Draft, can’t wait to face the Sun Devils for possibly the last time. White grew up in Tucson and attended Salpointe Catholic High School. His father and grandfather played baseball at Arizona. He’s been around the rivalry his whole life.
Arizona’s Mason White gestures into the Wildcat dugout after hitting a double in the fifth inning of their game against New Mexico on Feb. 18, 2025, at Hi Corbett Field.
“Being able to play against those dudes is just so much fun because everyone cares,” White said. “Their side cares. We care. All the fan bases get into it.
“I love playing up there because it’s hostile. Their fans are screaming at you. Our fans are up there rooting for us. ... The players all know each other on both sides through travel ball or, at some point, summer ball. You’ve got the barbeque smoke. It’s hot. The ball’s flying. It’s just awesome.”
Whether White and his teammates feel the same way by the end of the series remains to be seen.
The Wildcats haven’t been as sharp from the mound or in the field as they were earlier in the season, and they’ve encountered some bad luck at the plate — especially during Tuesday’s 11-5 loss at Grand Canyon.
Arizona yielded just two runs per game during its 10-game win streak and had a 2.05 ERA over that stretch. In the past seven games, the Wildcats have allowed an average of 7.4 runs and have posted an ERA of 6.64.
Arizona runner Mason White slides home with a Wildcat run as he scores from first on an RBI double by Garen Caulfield in the seventh inning of their game against New Mexico on Feb. 18, 2025, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona has committed seven errors in the past three games — the same total it had in the previous 11. That led to five unearned runs.
“We just can’t continue to play defense like we have been,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “That’s really been the difference. With or without Brendan (Summerhill, Arizona’s injured right fielder), our defense has really failed us, and we’re going to try tighten that up this weekend.
“The guys will be jacked up, but they have to keep their wits about them. It’s going to be paramount that we get every out that we can and not give ASU four or five outs an inning.”
Arizona ranks fifth in the Big 12 in fielding percentage (.976). ASU is first (.983).
The Sun Devils rank third in the league in batting average (.312), while the Wildcats are seventh (.294). They averaged 8.3 runs per game during the 10-game winning streak, 6.6 since. They’ve played the past five games without Summerhill, their best hitter, who’s expected to miss about three more weeks because of a broken hand.
Arizona coach Chip Hale throws batting practice to the Wildcats before they face New Mexico in their home opener Feb. 18, 2025, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position vs. GCU but struck out only four times and lined out five times.
“I thought we swung the bats well. We just didn’t get a whole lot to show for it,” Hale said. “We talk about hitting the ball low and hard, and we did that. Unfortunately, the groundballs were at people, and a couple double plays hurt us. But, for the most part, I was happy with that.”
True student-athlete
Arizona trailed GCU 7-4 entering the bottom of the eighth. The Wildcats turned to top reliever Tony Pluta, who had allowed only one earned run in 15⅔ innings.
Pluta struggled, yielding four runs in one-third of an inning before being pulled. Pluta arrived about halfway through the game because he had an exam to take and an accident on I-10 caused traffic delays.
“I think it could have affected him a little bit,” Hale said. “You’re never going to be perfect all year. So he had his one clunker.”
Arizona’s Tony Pluta throws during his inning of work in a game simulation during a practice session at Hi Corbett Field on Feb. 4, 2025.
Pluta is majoring in aerospace engineering. Frankie Manca, Arizona’s assistant director of equipment operations, drove Pluta to the game.
“A lot of our guys are online, and he’s not,” Hale said. “We’ll always bow to whatever the class is. We’ll make sure we get that done first.”
Couldn’t land Hairston
ASU freshman Landon Hairston is off to a promising start, batting .343 through his first 23 college games.
Hale thought Arizona would have a good chance to land the Queen Creek product because Hale coached his father, Scott, in the minor leagues, including parts of three seasons with the Tucson Sidewinders.
“Landon was actually born when I was managing him, so when we started the recruiting process, I thought we had a leg up,” Hale said. “But he never even took a visit here. He has been in love with Arizona State his whole life, according to Scott. So he’s happy, and he’s doing well. I’m happy for him personally. Hopefully we can hold him down a little bit.”
Queen Creek Casteel’s Landon Hairston (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against Catalina Foothills during their Class 5A state championship game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on May 16, 2023.
Scott Hairston attended Canyon Del Oro High School. He played 11 seasons in MLB, including four with the Diamondbacks.
Inside pitch
– Left fielder Easton Breyfogle, who has missed time because of two separate quadriceps injuries, is expected to make the trip. Hale said Breyfogle could be available off the bench Friday and could start Saturday and/or Sunday.
– Arizona has explored the possibility of using corner infielder Andrew Cain as a corner outfielder. Cain dabbled in the outfield at Ironwood Ridge, where he also was a standout basketball player. The expected starters in left and right Friday are TJ Adams and Gunner Geile, the Wildcats’ best available defenders at those spots.
– ASU’s expected starting pitchers are LHP Ben Jacobs (2-1, 4.42 ERA), RHP Jack Martinez (3-1, 4.46) and RHP Jaden Alba (1-0, 4.82). They will face Arizona’s right-handed trio of Collin McKinney (0-1, 2.00), Owen Kramkowski (3-3, 6.46) and Smith Bailey (1-1, 3.13). Bailey was named a first-team Midseason Freshman All-American by Perfect Game.
– Hale on ASU junior center fielder Isaiah Jackson, a product of Cienega High: “He’s a tremendous athlete. He’s a game-changer on defense. He goes from gap to gap and steals balls, goes over the fence and gets them. So that’s irritating if you’re on the other team. ... I know they did a swing change in the fall, and it’s been successful. If you miss with your pitch, he can hit it a long way. He’s a really good player, and I’m sure he has a really good career ahead of him.”
– D1Baseball and Baseball America made midseason projections for the NCAA Tournament. Both had Arizona as a 2-seed in regionals hosted by No. 16 overall seeds. D1 placed the Wildcats at UC Irvine; BA put them at Vanderbilt. Both are opposite No. 1 overall seed Tennessee, which defeated Arizona earlier this season.
