Wildcats get No. 4 seed, will play in Thursday’s quarterfinals
A late-season slide knocked Arizona out of contention to host an NCAA regional, and a few more losses might have dropped the Wildcats close to the tournament bubble. Instead, they’ll be heading into the postseason with some momentum and, most importantly, an extra day of rest.
Arizona wrapped up the regular with an 8-1 win at Houston on Saturday afternoon, taking the weekend series and winning consecutive conference games after dropping four of five. And combined with ASU’s loss at Oklahoma State, the Wildcats (36-18, 18-12) will be the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
The top four teams earn a bye into Thursday’s quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Arizona will play at 7 a.m. PT against the winner of Wednesday’s first-round game between No. 5 ASU (35-21) and No. 12 BYU (27-26).
Houston (29-24, 12-17) led early after leadoff man Tyler Broussard homered off Smith Bailey. That was one of three hits Bailey would allow over six innings, the freshman picking up his first career quality start.
Punctuation mark to end the sixth! What a performance from @smithbaileyyy! ️ pic.twitter.com/MtZZmg7leN
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 17, 2025
Arizona took the lead for good in the top of the 2nd run-scoring hits by Easton Breyfogle and Tommy Splaine, though Breyfogle had to lead the game after appearing to get injured on his slide home. Breyfogle had five hits in the series and seven in the past four games.
A 4-run 3rd inning broke the game open. Adonys Guzman had a 2-run double and then scored on a 2-run home run by Andrew Cain, his second of the weekend. Cain was 3 for 4 with three extra-base hits.
Mason White added a 2-run homer in the 5th, the 42nd of his career to move within one of Brad Glenn for second on the UA all-time list. It was also his 101st career extra-base hit, tying UA head coach Chip Hale for third in school history, and the 23rd in Big 12 play to break the school record.
Career extra-base hit No. 1⃣0⃣1⃣ for White ties none other than Chip Hale for third in program history! pic.twitter.com/rqQYAm300L
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 17, 2025
Scoreless innings by Julian Tonghini, Hunter Alberini and Tony Pluta finished it off for Arizona, striking out six of 11 batters faced.
The Wildcats surpassed the previous best regular-season win total under Hale (35 in 2022) and, with the Big 12 Tournament a single-elimination event they’ll head into the NCAA Tournament with their fewest losses since 2021.
The UA finished 9-6 on the road in its first season of Big 12 play, matching its road record in the final year of the Pac-12.