PHOENIX – Arizona baseball’s midweek luck was bound to end eventually, but the way the Wildcats lost Tuesday at Grand Canyon won’t engender much confidence heading into rivalry weekend.
Shaky pitching and an inability to drive runners in contributed to Arizona’s 11-5 loss to the Antelopes at GCU Ballpark. The defeat marks Arizona’s first loss in a midweek game this season after winning the first five.
The Wildcats (20-8) were making their first of two trips up to Phoenix this week, with a three-game series against ASU on tap.
Arizona’s lineup went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position, while starter Mason Russell and the UA bullpen weren’t quite sharp enough.
“Tonight was not pretty for us so we’re gonna have to turn it around, or it’s going to be tough up in Tempe,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said.
Arizona began the game well by dropping a two-spot in the top of the first when Mason White drove in a pair of runs on a fielding error by GCU’s second baseman.
Arizona’s Russell, a freshman lefty making his first career start, had a jittery start on the mound, giving up a walk, single and hit by pitch to the first three GCU batters. Lopes first baseman Zach Yorke drove in a pair of runs on an RBI single to tie the game.
Russell settled in from there, inducing a double play to get out the first and recording a one-two-three second.
Hale said Russell did a “great job” once he found command of the zone.
“He hasn’t had opportunities. Want to get him on the mound more and more and make sure we develop his arm because he’s just too good,” Hale said.
Arizona briefly reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth on a Mathis Meurant sac fly that scored Andrew Cain.
GCU responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame off freshman Kenan Elarton, though only one was earned. Elarton took the loss for the first decision of his career.
GCU’s bullpen held Arizona scoreless over the next three innings. The Wildcats stranded a pair of runners in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Arizona’s top of the order hitters Garen Caulfield and Aaron Walton went a combined 5 for 8, and the Wildcats had 10 hits as a team.
Arizona ended the night with nine runners left on base.
“I thought we hit a lot of balls hard,” Hale said. “I can’t say offensively anything was wrong. Most of the balls that were hit hard were right at them.”
Arizona got a run back in the eighth on an RBI triple by Meurant, but GCU opened the game up in the bottom of the inning with a four-spot off UA reliever Tony Pluta.
Arizona opens its series at ASU Friday at 6:30 p.m. PST. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics