Wildcats go 4-6 in Big 12 openers
Arizona’s fourth trip to Texas this season is off to the same start as the previous one, with a disappointing loss to a team in the bottom half of the conference standings.
Back-to-back 5-run innings by Houston in the 6th and 7th turned a tight one into a laugher, with Arizona falling 13-4 on Thursday night.
It was the fifth time in the last six weekend series that the Wildcats (34-18, 16-12 Big 12) lost the opening game, finishing 4-6 in conference openers this season. The UA also lost the first two at home against last-place Utah after taking the first two against TCU the week before.
Arizona had leads of 2-1 and 4-3, going up in the top of the 4th on a 2-run home run by Garen Caulfield. It would get only one more hit the rest of the night, finishing with five
Owen Kramkowski retired seven of eight entering the 6th when Houston (29-22, 12-15) put the first two runners on then took the lead for good on a 2-run single to chase UA’s starter. Casey Hintz came on and allowed a 3-run homer to make it 8-4.
Kramkowski, who had a 2.70 ERA in four April starts, has allowed 16 runs (14 earned) in 14.1 innings in May since getting moved to the series-opening slot.
Houston added another five runs in the 7th to blow it open.
The loss kept Arizona tied for 5th in the Big 12 with Kansas State, which lost at Cincinnati. But the Wildcats are two games back of ASU, Kansas and TCU for the last bye into the conference tournament quarterfinals. The UA would win a tiebreaker with each of those teams but that would require winning the last two at Houston and having someone lose their final two.
Raul Garayzar will make his first weekend start for Arizona at 4:30 pm PT Friday.