Arizona Baseball Suffers Heartbreaking Sweep in Corvallis

The Arizona Baseball team continued action this weekend working their way through 2016-17 conference play and were heartbreakingly swept by OSU in balmy Corvallis.

It was a tough weekend for the Wildcats fans. Perhaps still reeling from the Basketball team losing in the Sweet 16 to Xavier. The Arizona Baseball team was no stranger to heartbreak as they were swept in a series against a very good Oregon State team. It’s never easy to win on the road, and the Wildcats learned that after playing the No. 1 team in the nation, the one-loss Beavers.

On Friday, Arizona opened up the Pac-12 series with senior JC Cloney on the mound. In game one of the three-game set, Cloney would pitch a solid game completing seven and a third innings, striking out five batters and surrendering just three runs on three hits.

The game would start relatively quiet, as Arizona would have a bit of a back and forth battle with the Beavers before taking the lead 3-1, in the seventh inning. Junior outfielder Jared Olivia would homer in that inning, and after a few batters later, freshman sensation Nick Quintana would score off an error, making it 3-1 Wildcats.

However, it was the Wildcats’ pitching that would struggle to close out the game, as the Beavers rallied right back, winning in walk-off fashion 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth.

Game two would be another back and forth battle, much like in game one. Again starting off somewhat slow, Arizona would take the lead briefly in the top of the fifth, when Cesar Salazar would score from third off of an Alfonso Rivas sacrifice fly ball.

But, once again the Beavers would rally and take the lead 4-3 after a big sixth inning. Needing more late game heroics, the Wildcats would again come through in the clutch, tying the game at 4-4, after Cory Voss would launch a home run into left field.

Hoping to take it to extra innings, Oregon State came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth, taking full advantage of their opportunities. Unfortunately, Arizona was unable to shut the door on the opportunistic Beavers, as they lost 5-4 on a wild pitch. This win would come again in walk-off fashion for OSU.

Freshman Randy Labaut would get the start for the Wildcats in game two, pitching a very respectable five innings, surrendering just three runs on seven hits. Labaut would also strike out three batters.

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Offensively, Arizona was a little stagnant, collecting just four hits, but making them all count, with all four runs being earned. Quintana would also homer in the fourth inning, his third of the season.

The series finale would begin on Sunday with junior pitcher Rio Gomez on the mound. This game would be unlike the other two, as it was very much an offensive showcase for both teams.

Oregon State would jump out to an early lead, scoring five runs in just the first four innings. Gomez would struggle with his command early on and would be pulled after pitching just three and two-thirds innings.

In his start, Gomez would surrender five runs (three earned), before juniors Landon Faulkner, and Ryan Gowens would come on in relief.

Down big, Arizona would score four runs in the top of the eighth, closing in on Oregon State’s lead, making the game a bit more competitive. Ultimately, Arizona’s rally would come up short, as the Wildcats lost by an 11-7 final.

Arizona would be led offensively by Rivas, and veteran infielder, J.J. Matijevic. The two would combine for five of Arizona’s seven hits, driving in four runs.

After the losses, the Wildcats drop to 16-7 (2-4) on the season. Arizona will return to action on Wednesday when they face Grand Canyon at Hi-Corbett Field at 6 p.m. MST. Following the quick, one-game series, Arizona will welcome Pac-12 foe, USC to Tucson next weekend.

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A tough weekend. Arizona fought hard against one of the best teams in college baseball this year and just came up short. It’s a long season, and the Wildcats will definitely rebound! Bear Down, Arizona!