Arizona has won every conference road series this season and has a chance to keep that streak going after splitting a doubleheader at Texas Tech on Saturday.
The Wildcats (30-12, 13-7 Big 12) eeked out a 2-1 win behind stellar pitching from Owen Kramkowski and Tony Pluta, rebounding from a 12-3 loss in the opener during which the bullpen got roughed up.
Kramkowski allowed a run on eight hits over seven innings, improving to 7-3, then Pluta went the final two frames for his conference-leading ninth save. Neither pitcher allowed a walk, the fifth time this season (but first time in Big 12 play) the UA didn’t walk anyone.
Arizona scored twice in the top of the 6th to take a 2-1 lead, tying it on a leadoff solo home run by Aaron Walton and going ahead on a Garen Caulfield RBI single. Walton also drove in a run in the opening game.
Texas Tech (14-24, 9-11) scored 10 runs against UA relievers in the opening game, tagging Casey Hintz for five runs in 2.2 innings and Garrett Hicks for three in 0.2 innings. Those two were on the wrong end of an 8-run inning in a 12-5 loss at BYU last weekend.
That wasn’t the worst part of the first game, though. That came when Brendan Summerhill, playing just his second game since missing a month with a fractured right hand, appeared to injure his left leg running out a grounder. He had a 2-run double earlier in the game before coming out.
Summerhill did not play in the second game and his status is unknown.
Arizona and Texas Tech wrap up the series Sunday at 10:30 a.m. PT with Smith Bailey on the mound.