Winners of 19 of 21 entering the weekend, Arizona was due for a lull at some point. It’s here, and the result is its first series loss of the season.
The Wildcats lost 6-3 to Baylor on Saturday night at Hi Corbett Field, their second consecutive loss after winning the first 14 at home this season.
“Teams go through these ruts,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “We’re not in a good place. We didn’t play that well in West Virginia, and we definitely didn’t play well on Wednesday night. So hopefully we’ll get some energy back tomorrow. The only way to get out is just to play our hearts out, and hopefully tomorrow we do better.”
Arizona (19-7, 5-3 Big 12) managed only five hits, all singles, the first time this season it did not have an extra-base hit. The Wildcats drew six walks and were hit by two pitches but left 10 on base, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th and four over the final three innings.
That performance followed Friday’s 8-5 loss, two games where the absence of centerfielder and leadoff man Brendan Summerhill have been felt at the plate.
But it was the UA’s defense early that decided this game. Arizona committed three errors, two in the top of the third when Baylor (19-7, 4-4) scored three times to take a 6-0 lead.
The Bears had second and third with 1 out when Mason White fielded a bouncer that was going to score a run. He opted to try and get the runner at 3rd but his throw was wide, and that runner scored on a sacrifice fly. The next batter hit one right to Maddox Mihalakis, who lifted his glove too soon and another run came in.
“It’s not the way we play the game,” Hale said. “We got to find a combination that’s both going to make the plays on defense and give us the best chance offensively. It’s not coming right now.”
Arizona’s pitching was solid for the most part. Starter Owen Kramkowski allowed six runs, four earned, over five innings, but gave up only four hits while walking one and striking out seven. He also had a throwing error that led to one of Baylor’s runs in the 3rd.
Raul Garayzar then threw four scoreless innings of relief, saving Arizona’s bullpen for Sunday as it tries to avoid being swept at home for the first time since 2023.
“I think it’s baseball, it happens,” said catcher Adonys Guzman, who had two RBI and also threw out two baserunners. “We obviously don’t have one of our best guys right now, so we’re just trying to find a way to score runs and win games the last two days.”