Streaks are meant to come to an end.
Arizona lost a Pac-12 game for the first time in more than a month, falling 4-3 at Washington on Saturday afternoon to end its school-record 11-game win streak in league play. The Wildcats (26-15, 14-6) hadn’t lost in conference play since March 23 at Oregon.
The UA took a 3-1 lead in the 4th on a squeeze bunt by Tommy Splaine and an RBI single from Andrew Cain, but Washington (15-20-1, 7-13) tied it in the bottom of the inning with two unearned runs. A fielding error by Maddox Mihalakis allowed one run to score, then the Huskies tied it on a 2-out single against Clark Candiotti.
Candiotti gave up an RBI double in the 5th to put Washington ahead. The righty allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks in five innings, dropping to 4-2.
The bullpen kept it a 1-run game as Eric Orloff and Dawson Netz combined for three scoreless innings, but Arizona couldn’t come through at the plate in the late stages. Splaine struck out with runners on the corners and two out in the 8th, and in the 9th both Garen Caulfield and Mason White struck out with the tying run at second.
Arizona, which saw its lead atop the Pac-12 standings shrink to one game, will try for a fifth straight series win Sunday at 1 p.m. PT. The Wildcats will send RHP Cam Walty (6-1, 2.55) to the mound.