Photos: Arizona drops the opener of their series against Oregon State 9-2 with the Pac 12 regular season championship on the line
The No. 1 Wildcats fell behind early in first game of the weekend at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., May 16, 2024, needing one win from their final three game series with second-place Oregon State to clinch the conference championship.
Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana dives back into second under a leaping Arizona first baseman Andrew Cain after tripping rounding the bag and having to settle for a double in the third inning of their series-opening Pac-12 matchup Thursday at Hi Corbett Field.
Arizona right fielder Brendan Summerhill (4) runs down a shallow pop-up into no-man’s land by Oregon State outfielder Gavin Turley (1) in the sixth inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Oregon State’s second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) gets to chopper in the hole from Arizona’s Maddox Mihalakis (33) that ended up an infield single in the fifth inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona shortstop Mason White (24), in the shift into the second base hole, loses his grip on a grounder allowing Oregon State’s Dallas Macias (4) to reach in the first inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
The Arizona bench signals two strikes on an Oregon State batter in the sixth inning of their Pac-12 game at Hi Corbett Field on May 16, 2024.
Arizona head coach Chip Hale asks for a pitch clock violation against Oregon State pitcher Aiden May in the sixth inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona’s Xavier Esquer (10) watches the action from on deck against Oregon State in the sixth inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) tracks a grounder by Oregon State’s Dallas Macias (4) skipping in front of runner Gavin Turley (1) in the seventh inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Oregon State’s Brady Kasper (17) celebrates a lead off double into right field in the eighth inning against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona pitcher Eric Orloff winds up coming in in relief against Oregon State in the sixth inning of their Pac-12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024.
Arizona shortstop Richie Morales (7) comes into start a 6-4-3 double play on a grounder by Oregon State’s Jacob Krieg (22) in the eighth inning of their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona reliever Casey Hintz throws against Oregon State on May 16.
Oregon State’s Gavin Turley (1) gets a helmet bump after knocking a two RBI homer in the third inning against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona starter Jackson Kent throws against Oregon State in the first inning of their Pac-12 game at Hi Corbett Field on May 16.
Oregon State’s Brady Kasper (17) gets a hug from Dallas Macias (4) after bringing them both in on a homer in the third, the second two-RBI dinger by the Beavers in the inning, against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona right fielder Brendan Summerhill (4) makes the catch after a long run into the second base hole on a flare by Oregon State’s Brady Kasper (17) to end the Beaver half of the eighth inning at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
A young Arizona fan avoids the late afternoon sun under her umbrella waiting for the first pitch of the Wildcats Pac 12 regular season-ending series against Oregon State at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona infielder Andrew Cain (3) signs a few autographs in the last moments of pre-game before first pitch against Oregon State at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona’s Xavier Esquer (10) takes some grounders at third base as the Wildcats get ready to go up against Oregon State with the Pac 12 regular season title on the line at Hi Corbett Field, May 16, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
No. 14 Arizona dropped the opener of its three-game series to No. 6 Oregon State, which parlayed a five-run third inning into a 9-2 blowout Thursday night at Hi Corbett Field.
Tucson Sugar Skulls took down the undefeated Vegas Knight Hawks in walk-off fashion in overtime on Saturday at Tucson Arena.