SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (36-21) used three home runs to power past the Oregon Ducks (35-22) in the opening game of the inaugural Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Wednesday morning.
With the win, the Wildcats move on in the winners bracket of Division 1 and will play the winner of the Stanford/Arizona State game on Thursday at 4:45 p.m. MST. A complete Pac-12 Tournament bracket can be found here.
Arizona earned the first ever win, hit (Chase Davis 2nd inning double), and home run (Garen Caulfield 2nd inning) in tournament history.
The Wildcats managed leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before the Ducks grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded hit batter and a sac fly off the bat of Davis in the top of the seventh gave Arizona the lead back, one they wouldn't relinquish.
Susac's second home run of the game, a two-run shot over the bullpen in left field, gave Arizona some much-needed insurance in the top of the ninth inning.
Starting pitcher Dawson Netz, making his first start since April 12, worked 2.2 innings for the Cats and allowed just two runs on two hits. He did not factor into the decision.
Arizona's bullpen was instrumental in their tournament-opening win, with left-handers Javyn Pimental (1.1 IP) and Eric Orloff (0.2 IP), along with right-hander Quinn Flanagan (2.0 IP), posting scoreless outings. Righty Trevor Long pitched the ninth inning for the Wildcats and earned his sixth save of the season.
Arizona WildBATS
- C Daniel Susac: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB
- 2B Garen Caulfield: 2-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
- LF Chase Davis: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI
Bullpen Bullies
- LHP Javyn Pimental: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R
- LHP Eric Orloff: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, Win (2-2)
- RHP Quinn Flanagan: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 K
- RHP Trevor Long: 1.0 IP, Save (6)
Number of the Day
- Following Wednesday's performance, Daniel Susac now has six career multi-home run games with the Wildcats.
Photo of the Day
Social Media Coverage
?????????????? ?? #BearDown
?? @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/tOMl2kdB7h
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
Onto the scoreboard and into the history books ?? #BearDown
?? @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/y9wNaAnIpd
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
?? Dude alert ??
?? @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/flgDT8DawQ
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
The first ever hit in the Pac-12 Tournament belongs to CD! Hustle double to lead off the 2nd ??????? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/CcVp7GQuOx
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
?????? @quinnflanagan18 pic.twitter.com/WfAWrrFJgF
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
Moving on ??
We will face the winner of the Stanford/Arizona State game tomorrow afternoon at 4:45 PM MST #BearDown pic.twitter.com/GZ9tgpnsxu
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 25, 2022
Up Next
Arizona will face the winner of the No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 8 Arizona State game on Thursday, May 26 at 4:45 p.m. MST.