SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Fresh off a win over Oregon, Arizona Baseball (36-22, 16-14) returned to action on Thursday but it wasn’t a day to remember as they lost to Stanford.
Arizona Baseball had a great first-round win against Oregon to open up the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament, but as they returned to action on Thursday, it was largely a day to forget as the Wildcats were overmatched by a talented Stanford team.
Turning to Garrett Irvin who got the start on the bump for the Wildcats; however, Arizona would use a committee of pitchers in this one. And regardless of who Arizona sent out, the Cardinal had an answer, punishing the Wildcats as they racked up 21 hits and 15 runs (12 earned).
The offense was respectable in this one, doing their best to keep things competitive as Arizona picked up 14 hits and drove in eight runs.
Tony Bullard would seemingly lead the way, batting 3-4 from the plate with three RBIs. Tanner O’Tremba and Chase Davis were big for the Cats as well, going a combined 5-9 from the dish with two RBIs and a home run.
Despite their best attempts to keep this one close, Stanford was too much for Arizona Baseball as the Wildcats fell 15-8.
Stanford would get the action going early in this one as they plated two runs in the second inning off of back-to-back solo home runs. The Cardinal would then plate another run in the third inning off another solo home run to make it 3-0.
Luckily, the Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly, generating a bit of offense in the third when a few timely hits from the Cats would tie things up at 3-3.
Unfortunately, that would be the closest that this one would get as two more in the fourth and two more in the fifth before exploding for five runs in the sixth inning to take a commanding 13-4 lead.
Arizona would do their best to keep this one competitive, manufacturing two runs in the seventh inning as well as two runs in the eighth inning to cut into Stanford’s lead. However, it wouldn’t be enough as the Cardinal eventually cruised to the 15-8 win.
As sharp as Gary has been on the mound in recent weeks, Stanford had his number on Thursday as he lasted just four-and-a-third, surrendering 10 hits and seven runs. Irvin would pick up the loss, falling to 4-4 on the year.
Where does Arizona Baseball go from here?
With the loss, Arizona falls to 36-22 (16-14) on the year and will now face rival Arizona State in an elimination game on Friday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 3:00 P.M. MST, and the winner will move on to face Stanford on Saturday.