The Arizona baseball team still had a chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Friday night, but those hopes were dashed after a 7-4 loss to Houston in the series opener.
The Wildcats (17-31, 7-18 Big 12) will likely need to sweep the Cougars (21-28, 5-20 Big 12) to get any closer to making their Big 12 tournament hopes a reality. They now find themselves behind the eight ball.
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Head coach says: ‘I’m frustrated’ Chip Hale. “I told them we’re going to play the right way until the end. I don’t care if we make the tournament. I just want to make sure they understand what winning in baseball is.”
Owen Kramkoski Pitched 5.1 innings, allowed nine hits in seven runs, and struck out only two Cougars. Came in Corey Crean Complete the game. Crean allowed just four hits and struck out five batters.
“Great job,” Hale said of Crean’s performance. “We’re in a situation now where Smith (Bailey) is injured and (Benton) Hickman probably won’t be able to pitch this weekend because our bullpen is so short. (Clinn) is obviously going to be out the rest of the weekend, but that allows other people to pitch and gives us a chance to win. We still had a chance tonight. So that’s a positive.”
Houston took a one-run lead in the first inning, but Arizona responded with a run. It turned out to be Andrew Kane when going home Tony Lira Single.
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It didn’t take long for the Cougars to regain the lead. Mathis Merante Had a chance to end the second inning, but could easily have given up a pop-up ball, sending Houston all the way home from the second inning.
Houston scored two more runs in the third inning to put Arizona State within three. Wildcats respond again Nate Nowitzki when going home Bo Sylvester Ground.
After several scoreless innings, Houston found the scoreboard again in the sixth inning, scoring three runs and extending its lead to five.
After four scoreless innings, Arizona finally showed signs of life. Nowitzk’s single and Lira’s double sent Nowitzk home. Lira then came home on a Sylvester single to bring the score within three.
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Unfortunately for Arizona, it was all in vain as it couldn’t find three more runs in the bottom of the ninth to at least tie the game. The Wildcats will now try to win Saturday’s series on Senior Night.
“I want to honor these kids, especially the kids that have been here four or five years,” Hale said. “This is a special night for them. So we’re going to do a good job of honoring them before the game, and then we’re going to move forward and win a ball game.”
This will be the junior RHP Luc Vlada (3-2, 5.66) Arizona starts.
