Whether they won or lost Monday night at ASU, the Arizona Wildcats’ postseason outlook wouldn’t change.
But the Cats played the final regular-season meeting between the in-state rivals as if the national championship were at stake.
Getting clutch performances from Andrew Cain and Garrett Hicks, among others, Arizona outlasted ASU 5-3 in 11 innings at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Cain, who attended Ironwood Ridge High School, went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double that drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th.
Hicks, who’s from Buckeye, pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win and improve to 3-0.
Starting with a 7-4 victory over ASU on April 3, Arizona (14-22) has won five of its past seven games. The Wildcats finished their weekend road trip with a 3-1 mark, including a series victory over TCU.
Arizona's Andrew Cain gestures to the dugout after doubling to drive in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning against ASU on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Phoenix.
“We're a young team,” Cain told ESPN+ after the game. “We're trying to figure out ways to win. The last few games we've been able to do that.”
The first win over ASU (26-12) featured a seven-run seventh inning to overcome a 4-0 deficit. The two wins at TCU were one-run affairs. Monday night’s game was a nailbiter.
Arizona took a 3-0 lead on solo home runs by Cain, Beau Sylvester and Nate Novitske in the second and third innings. Cain has five home runs this season; three have come against the Sun Devils.
ASU scored one run in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the eighth on Nu’u Contrades’ two-run homer off Collin McKinney. Those were the only runs allowed by the UA bullpen in eight innings.
Arizona reclaimed the lead in the top of the 11th. Tony Lira led off with a double to left field and scored on Cain’s double to right-center. Cain advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a pickoff throw that third baseman Austen Roellig couldn’t handle.
Arizona's Garrett Hicks celebrates during the Wildcats' 5-3 victory over ASU on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Phoenix. Hicks did not allow a run over the final three innings to earn the win.
Hicks allowed a one-out single in the bottom half of the inning. Coen Niclai then hit a would-be double-play ball to shortstop that took a bad hop, resulting in an infield hit.
With runners on first and second, Hicks retired PJ Moutzouridis on a flyout to center and Landon Hairston on a flyout to left that required Cain to make a sliding catch.
Hicks twice retired Hairston, who entered Monday leading the nation in hits (68) and home runs (23). Hairston went 1 for 5 with a walk — an intentional pass to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Benton Hickman got Roellig to ground out to end the threat.
Arizona begins a six-game homestand Friday against Kansas State.
Inside pitch
– ASU won the regular-season series vs. Arizona, three games to two. The teams could meet again in the Big 12 Tournament.
– Arizona tied its season high with three home runs. The Wildcats have the fourth-fewest homers in the Big 12 with 31. ASU has the most with 76.
– Left-hander Patrick Morris, who’s from Chandler, made his first start of the season and limited the Sun Devils to one run on three hits in three innings. Right-hander Corey Kling followed Morris and threw three hitless frames.
– TJ Adams made his second straight start in center field in place of Carson McEntire, who suffered an undisclosed injury Saturday at TCU.
