Seasons aren’t decided in the first game, but that initial outing has traditionally been a good one for Arizona. Not this time.
The Wildcats lost 2-1 to Ole Miss on Friday afternoon at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas, opening the season with a loss for the first time in 17 years.
A pitcher’s duel at Globe Life Field saw the teams combine for only 11 hits, none with runners in scoring position and just one with men on base. Arizona was 0 for 6 and 0 for 10 in those categories, respectively, stranding 10 baserunners.
The UA’s lone run came on a 2-out solo home run in the top of the 8th inning by junior Mason White, a no-doubter that was the 30th of his career. Ole Miss scored twice in the 5th, on a sacrifice fly and then a solo homer.
Baylor transfer Collin McKinney was solid in his Arizona debut, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter in 4.1 innings. He left with a runner on 3rd in the bottom of the 5th for junior Casey Hintz, who after giving up a fly ball to score that runner allowed a homer on the next pitch.
Hintz ended up getting the loss going the final 3.2 innings, the longest outing of his career, striking out four including the last two he faced after loading the bases with one out in the 8th.
Arizona had five hits, two by senior Garen Caulfield, who flied out with the bases loaded in the 9th to end it. The Wildcats’ final rally saw Tommy Splaine and Easton Breyfogle draw walks to start the inning, but after pinch hitter TJ Adams sacrificed both into scoring position Richie Morales struck out.
Brendan Summerhill was intentionally walked before Caulfield was jammed on an 0-1 pitch and flew to right.
Arizona returns to action Saturday at 10 a.m. MT in the Shriners tourney against No. 15 Clemson, which beat Big 12 preseason favorite Oklahoma State 6-5 in the tournament’s first game.