Photos: Arizona goes down 7-5 in 13 innings to Houston, Game 2 of their Big 12 series
The Wildcats can't bounce back from a series opening loss to the Cougars in game two, getting out hit 23 to 12 and out scored 7-5 in thirteen innings, May 9, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona catcher Beau Sylvester (18) is late with the tag as Houston’s Blake Fields (24) scores what turned out to be the winning run on Jackson LaLima’s single in the top of the 13th inning as the Cougars edged the Wildcats 7-5, May 9, at Hi Corbett Field.
Houston starter Paul Schmitz (27) eyes a little chopper back to the mound as Arizona’s Tony Lira (36) grounds out in the fourth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona shortstop Mathis Meurant (5) keeps his concentration as Houston runner Tre Broussard (3) sprints to third over a ball hit by teammate Xavier Perez (7) leaving three Cougars stranded in the eighth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona starter Luc Fladda (24) delivers to Houston in the fourth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026. Went six innings, giving up a single run.
Houston’s Tyler Cox (11) easily beats the pick-off throw to Arizona shortstop Mathis Meurant (5) in the fifth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona’s Cash Brennan (13) makes the big gesture to the dugout after he stretched his RBI single to get to second in the fifth inning against Houston, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona’s Carson McEntire (4) comes to the dugout happy as his two run homer put the Wildcats up 4-1 over Houston in the fifth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona’s Tony Lira (36) slides back into second as Houston shortstop Tyler Cox (11) gets the pickoff throw late in the sixth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Houston’s Cade Climie (12) trots around the bases after mashing a three-RBI homer to tie the game at four in the seventh inning against Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona catcher Beau Sylvester (18) puts the tag on Houston runner Xavier Perez (7) after Blake Fields (24) missed his bunt on a suicide squeeze in the seventh inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona reliever Garrett Hicks (99) gives out a big yell celebrating his strikeout to strand the winning Cougar run at third in the Houston half of the 10th inning of their Big 12 game, May 9, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona’s Cash Brennan (13) slams into Houston catcher Riley Jackson (4) short of the plate trying to score the game winner from third on a dribbler up the first base line in the 11th inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona shortstop Mathis Meurant (5) has a bead on a lazy hopper from Houston’s Riley Jackson (4) in the thirteenth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona left fielder Andrew Cain’s dive comes up inches short of a slicing liner by Houston hitter Riley Jackson in the sixth inning of their Big 12 game on May 9, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona third baseman Cash Brennan (13) gloves a towering pop-up by Houston batter Tre Broussard (3) in the fifth inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona first baseman Tony Lira (36) charges a weak bunt up the line by Houston’s Tyler Cox (11) in the seventh inning that went for a base hit, May 9, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona third baseman Cash Brennan (13) cuts in front of shortstop Mathis Meurant (5) but can’t grab a roller in the hole by Houston’s Xavier Perez (7) in the seventh inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona second baseman Nate Novitske (47) draws a bead on a routine grounder hit by Houston batter Antonelli Savattere (21) in the eleventh inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona second baseman Nate Novitske (47) and first baseman Tony Lira (36) come up short chasing a blooper by Houston’s Blake Fields (24) in the eleventh inning of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Houston centerfielder Tre Broussard (3) stands under an easy fly ball by Arizona’s Dom Rodriguez (27), the first of three consecutive fly ball outs to centerfield to end the game in the thirteenth inning of the Cougar’s 7-5 win, Tucson, Ariz., May 9, 2026.
Arizona coach Chip Hale, right, assistant Toby DeMello and grad assistant Garen Caulfield gather for a strategy session during a Houston pitching change in the eighth inning of their Big 12 game, May 9, 2026, at Hi Corbett Field.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Freshman Joe Forbes' first career homer gave Arizona a 6-5 victory over Houston. But the Wildcats still lost the series and face long odds to make the Big 12 Tournament.