It would now take a major surprise for Arizona to earn a spot in Surprise later this month. The Wildcats fell 7-5 to Houston in 13 innings on Saturday night at Hi Corbett Field, extending their conference losing streak to seven games and dropping eight of their last nine overall. With four regular-season contests remaining, Arizona (17-32, 7-19) sits two games behind the final qualifying spot for the Big 12 Conference Tournament, scheduled for May 18-23 in Surprise.
The matchup between the league’s bottom two teams produced plenty of frustration on both sides. The teams combined for 35 hits — 23 by the Cougars — but stranded 31 runners on base (20 by Houston) and went just 6-for-33 with runners in scoring position.
Three of Houston’s hits (22-28, 6-20) came in the 12th and 13th innings, while Arizona’s only two in that stretch occurred during a four-run fifth that gave them a 4-1 lead. An RBI single by Cash Brennan and a safety squeeze bunt from Mathis Meurant were followed by a two-run home run from Carson McEntire.
Arizona’s other run came in the bottom of the 12th when Beau Sylvester singled with one out and scored on an RBI triple from Maddox Mihalakis, one of 11 players honored during Senior Night pregame ceremonies. But what followed typified the Wildcats’ struggles with runners in scoring position. Caleb Danzeisen was called out on strikes — one of four strikeouts looking for the UA, two by the true freshman — and Brennan grounded out.
After Houston tied the game in the seventh on a three-run homer by Cade Climie, the Wildcats left the winning run on third base in the eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th innings, and three of those arrived with fewer than two outs. Arizona also saw Brennan thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice in the 11th.
Houston scored twice in the 13th off Collin McKinney, who had been scheduled to start Sunday’s finale but instead pitched the final three innings. Arizona went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.
The Wildcats will close their home schedule on Sunday with an 11 a.m. PT first pitch.