Conference road wins are some of the most valuable commodities in college baseball, and entering this weekend Arizona had stacked up plenty of Big 12 victories away from home. It got another at Texas Tech, but not two like previous weekends.
The Wildcats lost 9-3 at Texas Tech on Sunday, dropping their first conference road series and falling back in the Big 12 standings with three weeks left in the regular season.
Arizona (30-13, 13-8) sits in fifth place after being outscored 22-8 by the Red Raiders (15-24, 10-11). It scored only five runs over the final 22 innings after junior Brendan Summerhill left the series opener with an apparent leg injury.
UA freshman right-hander Smith Bailey had the worst start of his career, allowing six runs in 4-plus innings. He left with the bases loaded in the top of the 5th trailing 3-2 but Hunter Alberini allowed a sacrifice fly and a 3-run home run.
The Wildcats got a 2-run homer from Aaron Walton, his second of the series and ninth of the series, and an RBI double from Gunner Geile.
Arizona returns home for its next four games, hosting New Mexico State on Tuesday before TCU comes in for three next weekend. The Horned Frogs’ coaching staff includes former Wildcat assistant Dave Lawn.