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Wildcats Walk Off Beavers, Secure Pac-12 Regular Season Championship

by arizonawildcats.com
May 18, 2024

TUCSON, Ariz. — A two-run double off the bat of Brendan Summerhill propelled the No. 14 Arizona Wildcats (33-20, 20-10) to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the No. 6 Oregon State Beavers (41-13, 19-10) and a Pac-12 regular season championship.

Arizona entered the bottom of the ninth trailing by one run before a leadoff hit by pitch drawn by Tommy Splaine sparked a rally. Pinch hitter Maddox Mihalakis worked a four-pitch walk to put two runners on with one out before Summerhill laced the fourth pitch he saw 110 mph to the gap in right center — Splaine and Mihalakis sprinted home and crowned the Wildcats.

Wildcats starting pitcher Cam Walty was brilliant, pitching into the ninth inning and allowing just two earned runs while striking out eight. He did not factor into the decision despite coming up with one of his best starts of the season in the biggest game of the year.

Summerhill finished the night 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, one run scored, and two RBI. Second baseman Garen Caulfield also logged a pair of hits, including a second-inning double, and scored Arizona's first run of the night.

Right-handed reliever Anthony Susac finished the top of the ninth and earned the win to improve to 1-2 following the walk-off victory.

Saturday's victory locked the Wildcats into the No. 1 seed in the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament, taking place next week at Scottsdale Stadium, the Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants.
Arizona WildBATS

  • RF Brendan Summerhill: 3-for-5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
  • 2B Garen Caulfield: 2-for-2, R, 2B, RBI, BB
  • 1B Tommy Splaine: 1-for-3, R, HBP

Bullpen Bully

  • RHP Anthony Susac: 0.2 IP, 0 R, Win (1-2)

Number of the Night

  • The Wildcats win on Saturday secured their sixth Pac-12 regular season championship, and their first since 2021.
  • Arizona's 20 Pac-12 victories this year are their third most conference wins in program history.
  • The Wildcats were picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll, an eight-spot difference from their finishing position.
  • Summerhill's walk-off double was the seventh walk-off victory for Arizona this season.

Photo of the Night

Social Media Coverage

Next Up
Arizona will begin play at the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Wednesday, May 22 with a pool play game against the Washington Huskies. First pitch on the Pac-12 Networks is set for 7:00 p.m. MST.
 

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