The Arizona baseball team did not have a great overall offensive performance against Grand Canyon on Tuesday night. The Wildcats left too many runners on base — and nearly let the Lopes catch them.
But Arizona continued to show signs of improvement at the plate — signs that have been evident for a while.
Four UA batters produced runs in the Wildcats’ 5-4 victory — their first in a midweek game this season. Each time, they faced a two-strike count.
Arizona struck out only five times while drawing seven walks.
“We had a lot of opportunities to add on; we didn't,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “But our at-bats, especially our two-strike at-bats, are getting better and better as the season goes.”
In their first 12 games, the Wildcats averaged 11.8 strikeouts and 3.8 runs per contest. In their past 12, they’ve averaged 6.5 strikeouts and 7.6 runs.
Arizona's Andrew Cain takes a cut against Grand Canyon on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
“We're battling,” Hale said. “We're not swinging at really bad pitches. Sometimes you have to go out of the zone a little bit so you don't get called out. But for the most part, we're making the guys come in there again with two strikes. And a lot of our guys ... they slow down a little bit with two strikes, instead of jumping so much, and maybe they see the ball a little better.”
No one epitomizes that improvement more than Andrew Cain. The junior outfielder walked 31 times and struck out 69 times during his first two seasons. This year, he has practically reversed that ratio, drawing 17 walks while fanning 12 times.
“I think it’s just trusting what I do in there,” said Cain, who’s batting .275 with a .398 on-base percentage. “The experience being here for two years has really helped, seeing a lot of pitching and knowing how guys are going to attack you. And just staying committed to what I can do. I know I have a good zone, and if I swing at the right pitches, it'll be very helpful.”
Arizona's Roman Meyers makes contact on a pitch against Utah on March 14, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
Cain had a double, a walk and a run scored against Grand Canyon. The walk came on a 3-2 count in the third inning. It followed Caleb Danzeisen’s 3-2 walk and preceded Roman Meyers’ two-RBI single on a 3-2 pitch.
Tony Lira’s first-inning solo home run came on a 2-2 count, as did Meyers’ RBI groundout and Mathis Meurant’s RBI single in the second
“You put yourself aside,” Cain said of the Wildcats’ two-strike approach. “'I’m gonna work for the team.'
"We like to say ‘for the A’ and hit the A (on their helmets). It's been a thing for us to really focus on — shortening up and seeing the ball deeper, fouling tough pitches off, getting one you like and putting it in play.”
Good stress
Despite their improved hitting, the Wildcats are still seeking their first series victory in Big 12 play. Arizona is 9-15, 2-4 entering this weekend’s three-game set at UCF.
The Wildcats’ depleted bullpen has had trouble holding leads. Arizona got walked off twice against Utah and allowed six runs in the seventh inning of the rubber match against Texas Tech to turn a 7-6 advantage into a 12-7 deficit (and eventual 12-10 defeat).
After a solid start from freshman Jack Lafflam on Tuesday, the bullpen delivered. Corey Kling pitched two scoreless innings. Patrick Morris allowed a two-run homer but stranded a runner at third with a strikeout. Garrett Hicks then pitched a scoreless ninth, stranding a runner at second after a two-out double.
Arizona's Garrett Hicks delivers a pitch against Grand Canyon on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
“Those are big outs for us,” Hale said. “A run-rule game is great. But maybe winning a game like that helps everybody. Pitchers are under stress, defense under stress.”
Hicks couldn’t get an out vs. Texas Tech, allowing a three-run homer, a walk, a double and a single. He didn’t spend the interim idly, going to work with pitching coach Sean Kenny and representatives from NewtForce in Arizona’s pitching lab.
“He did a lot of work just to get himself right and felt like he got himself right,” Hale said. “So it's a good deal.”
Lafflam’s turn
Hale has expressed concern about not having enough healthy pitchers for midweek games. Lafflam helped alleviate that problem by throwing a career-high four innings against GCU.
He allowed two runs on four hits. Most important, he didn’t walk a batter. Lafflam entered Tuesday having issued eight walks in five innings.
“I think definitely just trusting my stuff,” Lafflam said when asked what was different about Tuesday’s outing. “A lot of groundballs, popups, trusting my defense, being able to throw in the zone consistently and trust that I'm gonna get outs behind me.”
Lafflam, who attended Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, was the highest-rated recruit in Arizona’s 2025 class. He has found the transition from high school to college to be challenging.
“It's tough,” said Lafflam, a 6-foot-6 right-hander. “In high school, it's just different. Here, everyone's good. Everyone can hit anything. It doesn't really matter who you were in high school, what your rankings are or how hard you throw.
Arizona's Jack Lafflam delivers a pitch against Grand Canyon on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
“You just gotta compete every pitch. And if you don't, you'll pay.”
When he decided to attend Arizona instead of turning pro, Lafflam became teammates with high school rival Smith Bailey (Peoria Mountain Ridge). Bailey earned Freshman All-American honors last season.
“Seeing the success he had last year, I had to raise my standards, to be honest,” Lafflam said.
“I remember talking to him last season. He was just a steady guy. He's like, ‘Just gotta keep taking it week by week.’ That's what I'm trying to do right now.”
Arizona shortstop Mathis Meurant (5) can’t get a handle on a shot up the middle by New Mexico batter Karsen Waslefsky (3) for a hit in the first inning of their nonconference game, March 17, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Inside pitch
– Meurant started at shortstop vs. GCU and had three hits, including a double, raising his average from .111 to .163. Freshman Gavin Triezenberg made his UA debut at shortstop vs. Texas Tech but suffered a separated left shoulder while diving for a ball Sunday. Hale said fellow freshman Cash Brennan (ankle) could be back this weekend. “But hey, you know what? Mathis just had a great game, and that's how you stay in the lineup,” Hale said.
– UCF (15-8, 5-1) is coming off a midweek loss to Stetson but has won each of its first two Big 12 series — sweeping Oklahoma State at home and winning two of three at TCU.
– The Knights rank second in the conference with a 4.43 ERA and a .232 batting average against . Weekend starters Matt Sauser (0.64) and Camden Wicker (2.84) rank first and fourth in the league, respectively, in ERA.
– UCF is tied for last in the league with 15 home runs. Arizona is tied for 10th with 19. Cincinnati sophomore first baseman Quinton Coats has 19 home runs, most in the nation.
– The Wildcats left Wednesday morning for Orlando. They planned to lift weights Thursday afternoon before practicing at John Euliano Park on Thursday evening.
