Photos: Arizona walks off USC 4-3 for the last Pac 12 baseball tournament championship
The Wildcats forged a 4-3 comeback late over the Trojans, scoring the winner in the bottom of the ninth, in the last ever Pac 12 baseball tournament championship game, Scottsdale, Ariz., May 25, 2024.
The Wildcats swarm Tommy Splaine (20) after his single drove home pinch runner Emilio Corona for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 win over USC in the championship game in the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball tournament in Scottsdale.
Arizona pinch runner Emilio Corona just beats the throw to USC catcher Jacob Galloway to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.
The Arizona Wildcats hoist the last Pac 12 Baseball Tournament trophy after coming from behind to win 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday over USC at Scottsdale Stadium. Arizona won the conference’s regular season and tournament crowns in the final year of the league’s 12-team era.
Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) runs down a grinder from USC’s Jacob Galloway (40) in the first inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Arizona right fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) gets to a shot to the fence from USC ’s Kevin Takeuchi (8) and save a run in the third inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Arizona right fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) can’t get to smash to the fence from USC’s Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (27) that went for an RBI triple in the fourth inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
USC runner Carson Wells, left, can’t twist away from the tag by Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield after trying to get to second on a deep fly ball to left in the seventh inning of the Pac-12 Tournament championship game on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.
Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) tracks deep into the second base side to snare a hopper from USC’s Jacob Galloway (40) in the seventh inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Arizona starter Cam Walty yells to his teammates after getting a strikeout against USC in the championship game of the 2024 Pac 12 Baseball Tournament.
Arizona second base man Garen Caulfield (1) leaps for a drive to his left to retire USC’s Dean Carpentier (6) to end the Trojans half of the ninth inning in the Pac 12 baseball tournament final, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill runs toward the crowd as the Wildcats celebrate their walk-off win over USC for the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.
Arizona coach Chip Hale hugs shortstop Mason White following the Wildcats’ win over USC in the championship game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale. White was named tournament MVP.
Arizona’s Tommy Splaine is soaked after getting a water cooler dumped on him during his postgame TV interview following the Wildcats’ walk-off win over USC to win the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament Championship Saturday night in Scottsdale.
The grounds crew stencils the Pac 12 logo behind the mound ahead of the last game for the tournament — and for the league as a whole during its most recent 12-team era — just before Arizona faced USC in the championship game in the conference's 2024 bseball tournament Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium.
Arizona’s Garen Caulfield sits in the home-team dugout just before the Wildcats head out to face USC in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament final on Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium. The game was the last ever for the conference.
Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill watches his RBI single shoot into the outfield and get the Wildcats to 3-2 in the eighth inning against USC in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.
Arizona pitcher Bradon Zastrow sports the banana rally cap as the Wildcats chip away at USC’s lead in the eighth inning of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.
Arizona pinch runner Richie Morales (7) flies by USC catcher Jacob Galloway (40) with the tying run on a sac from by Garen Caulfield (1) eighth inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Arizona’s Garen Caulfield gestures to the dugout after getting a sacrifice fly to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth against USC in the championship game of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on May 25 in Scottsdale.
USC shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, left, and Arizona pinch runner Emilio Corona look for the call after Corona swiped second to get in scoring position with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the championship game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.
Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) holds the tournament MVP trophy after the Wildcats’ defeated USC 4-3 on May 25 in Scottsdale.
Arizona’s Andrew Cain (3) charges back to the scrum after the Wildcats scored the winning run against USC in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Arizona overcame a three-run deficit to defeat USC 4-3 in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game, giving the "Cardiac Cats" the final regular-season and tournament titles in the Conference of Champions.
Arizona baseball notebook: Contemplating a change to the rotation, well-rested bullpen, the Wildcats’ home-weather advantage and more ahead of this week’s Tucson Regional at Hi Corbett Field.
Michael Lev: UA baseball didn’t meet elevated expectations, but ’24 season still a successMichael Lev column: The season ended disappointingly for Chip Hale and Arizona baseball. But it was still a step forward. The question is: How can the Wildcats take the next step?