Arizona Baseball comes away with Frisco Classic sweep

In another busy weekend of action for Arizona Baseball (10-2), the Wildcats came away with a four-game sweep in Frisco, Texas.

After picking up a four-game sweep over Southeastern Louisiana the weekend before, Arizona Baseball finally returned to action against stiffer competition in the Frisco Baseball Classic.

Traveling all the way to Frisco, TX (just outside of Dallas), the Wildcats kicked off the weekend slate of games by taking on Oklahoma in a two-game set on Thursday and Friday.

Arizona Wildcats

Game 1:

Turning to starter Chase Silseth against the Sooners in game one, it would not be the right-handers’ day as Oklahoma would rough him up. Pitching in four-and-a-third innings, the Sooners would plate 10 runs on 11 hits before being pulled.

Replaced by Vince Vannelle, the Wildcats would use two other pitchers in this one, finally slowing down the Sooners’ offense to come away with the back-and-forth win.

Despite the Wildcats’ pitching struggles, however, the story of the day in game one was the Wildcats’ offense. Using timely hitting and smart baserunning, Arizona had a big day, plating 20 runs on 19 hits.

Just about everyone got in on the hitting action, as Mac Bingham, Kobe Kato, Jacob Berry, and Blake Paugh each with three RBI’s. Berry and Bingham would homer in this one.

Vannelle would pick up the win, as Arizona escapes 20-13.

Game 2: 

With the offense staying white-hot, the pitching in game two would be the opposite as it was in game one.

This time turning to Chandler Murphy, the “freshman” would turn in a dominant performance as he would pitch five innings, surrendering just one run on eight hits. He would strike out three Sooners batters.

Murphy would be relieved to start the sixth inning, but he would leave, picking up the eventual win to improve to 2-0 on the year. Preston Price, Riley Cooper, and Austin Smith would shut the door on Oklahoma, holding the Sooners to zero hits and zero runs over the final four innings.

The offense was once again dominant, using timely hitting, plating 12 runs to pick up the 12-1 win. Blas would have another strong day, going 2-4 from the plate with an RBI (a solo home run). Donta’ Williams, Ryan Holgate, and Berry would each have two RBI’s.

Game 3: 

Facing a new opponent in Saturdays’ action, the Wildcats would turn to Garrett Irvin as Arizona squared off with Dallas Baptist.

Seeing more of a back-and-forth kind of game, Arizona would pull out to a 5-1 lead before seeing some troubles.

Pulling Irvin after three innings, the Patriots would then jump on the Wildcats, eventually tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth inning, even pulling ahead 7-5 in the top of the sixth.

Luckily, Arizona’s offense would respond plating seven runs in the bottom half of the inning, even adding three more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to eventually deliver the 15-8 win.

Vannelle would come in and pick-up the win, meanwhile Quinn Flanagan would get the save, his second on the season.

With it being a hitting party for virtually all the Wildcats, it was Holgate that perhaps shined the most, hitting an impressive 2-5 from the plate with three RBI’s to lead the team.

Arizona Baseball completed the weekend sweep in the Frisco Baseball Classic, as the Wildcats came away with the Sunday win over the Missouri Tigers.

Game 4: 

Looking to finish the weekend off strong, it wasn’t going to be an easy challenge for Arizona, as the Wildcats would have to face a competent and talented Missouri squad.

Turning to TJ Nichols, the true freshman was dealing in this one. Looking confident and hitting his spots, the Wildcat righty would finish his day by pitching five-and-two-thirds innings, surrendering just three runs on five hits.

Missouri would rough him up a little in the second, but luckily he would settle down before being pulled.

Despite starting slow, Arizona’s offense would come to life later in the game, plating a run in the sixth, and four more in the top of the seventh, pacing themselves to the eventual, 8-4 win.

Once again, the trio of Cooper, Smith, and Price would come on in relief for the Cats, shutting the Tigers’ offense down. TJ would pick up the win, improving to 3-0 on the year.

On Deck for Arizona Baseball: 

With the wins, Arizona improves to 10-2 on the year and will resume action on Thursday inside Hi Corbett Field as the Wildcats will welcome Wichita State to town in a four-game set, capped by a Sunday doubleheader against Wichita State and Air Force.