One weekend into its time in the Big 12 Conference, Arizona is fitting in just nicely. In fact, it brought along a broom to help keep the place tidy.
The Wildcats beat Cincinnati 11-1 in seven innings on Sunday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field, completing the sweep in their first Big 12 series. That extended Arizona’s win streak to eight, with victories in 15 of 16 games, and improved its record at home to 12-0 at home, the best start to a season at HiC since winning the first 17 in 2017.
“It’s how we play in this park,” said junior Mason White, who was 3 for 4 with three RBI and drove in seven in the series. “After last year, we really learned how to dominate these games.”
Arizona (15-4, 3-0) outscored the Bearcats (11-9, 0-3) 33-6 despite hitting just one home run, a grand slam by Garen Caulfield in the 8-run 6th inning on Friday night. Of its 34 hits, 11 were doubles or triples with several of those starting out as singles and doubles.
“We’re taking extra bases,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “And in our ballpark, when you try to get the lead runner, if you’re alert, you can get extra bases. And we were able to do it throughout the series.”
Arizona led 1-0 after the 1st inning and then broke it open in the 4th with three runs, the first four batters reaching on hits. The rally started with a double by TJ Adams, who started all three games in left field in place of injured teammate Easton Breyfogle.
Adams, who hit .357 in 21 games last season before getting hurt, was 3 for 8 in the series and scored five runs out of the No. 9 hole.
“It’s why baseball is a team sport,” Adams said. “When you get called, you got to do what you’re supposed to do. And there’s roles, and you got to play those roles. So just control the controllables is everything that I’ve preached for a while. You get a chance, just do what I’ve practiced to do.”
The Wildcats added three runs in the 5th and fourth in the 6th, three coming in on a bases-clearing triple by White, to put the 7-inning run-rule into effect. Mercy rules in Big 12 play only apply to the final game of a series.
White, who struck all four times in Tuesday’s win over ASU, had only two strikeouts in 14 plate appearances over the weekend, and his average is up to .329
“That’s exactly where we’re trying to get him at, and especially against the lefties, I think it’s really good for him to get some more confidence and drive the ball,” Hale said. “The hits that he gets the other way are golden for him. That’s what’s going to open up the whole game for him.”
UA starter Smith Bailey got his first career win, going five innings and allowing no runs, but he was far from perfect. The freshman right-hander walked five—he had only issued four walks in his first four starts—along with five strikeouts and two hits allowed.
“It wasn’t easy for Smith today, he didn’t have probably his best stuff,” Hale said. “He fell behind a bunch, made big pitches in big spots.”
Arizona completes its season-long 9-game homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT against Kansas, a nonconference game. The Wildcats then head to their first Big 12 road series Friday at West Virginia.