It's rivalry weekend at Hi Corbett Field as the Arizona Wildcats (26-12, 11-7) and Arizona State Sun Devils (19-19, 8-7) face off in a three-game series. All three games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks and broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.
Arizona returns to town following a two-game sweep of the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha. During the series the Wildcats pitching staff combined to allow just one run on 11 hits, all of which were singles.
The Wildcats currently stand third in the Pac-12 standings with four conference series remaining on the schedule.
Promotions this weekend include a fan RED OUT on Saturday, a Daniel Susac trading card giveaway on Sunday, and much more. Complete promo schedule and details can be found HERE. Tickets to all three games are still available for purchase and can be secured by clicking HERE.
For more, a complete weekend preview is below.
DateOpponentTime (MST) / ResultArizona PitcherOpponent Pitcher
| Friday, April 22 | Arizona State | 6:05 PM | RHP TJ Nichols (5-2, 4.18) | LHP Adam Tulloch (2-1, 6.95) |
| Saturday, April 23 | Arizona State | 5:05 PM | RHP Chandler Murphy (1-1, 9.00) | RHP Kyle Luckham (5-2, 4.38) |
| Sunday, April 24 | Arizona State | 12:05 PM | LHP Garrett Irvin (3-2, 2.86) | TBA |
- The Arizona Wildcats return home for a three-game rivalry series against the Arizona State Sun Devils this weekend at Hi Corbett Field.
- All three games will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks with play-by-play from Daron Sutton and broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
- Arizona leads the all-time series against Arizona State, 256-223-1, with games dating back to 1907. The Sun Devils won the most recent matchup, 10-6, on April 5, 2022 in Phoenix.
- Arizona has scored at least one run in 210 consecutive games, the longest active scoring streak in the Power Five and the second-longest in program history. They are 22 games away from tying the longest known streak in school history.
- Outfielder Mac Bingham has reached base safely in 25 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team and the longest streak of his career. Infielder Nik McClaughry (18 games) and O'Tremba (14 games) also sport extended on-base streaks.
- Catcher Daniel Susac currently leads the Pac-12 and ranks second nationally with 65 hits. Susac also leads the Pac-12 batting title race with a .382 AVG. Outfielder Tanner O'Tremba is tied for second in the conference with 54 hits.
- Five former Wildcats made 2022 MLB Opening Day rosters: INF Bobby Dalbec (Red Sox), RHP Tylor Megill (Mets), RHP Mark Melancon (Diamondbacks), INF Kevin Newman (Pirates), and INF Alfonso Rivas (Cubs).
SOME SERIES THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats return home from a five-game road trip for a three-game rivalry series against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Hi Corbett Field this weekend...All three games will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks with play-by-play from Daron Sutton and Sunday analysis from former Arizona head coach Andy Lopez...The series will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries...The Wildcats lead the all-time series over the Sun Devils, 256-223-1, with games dating back to 1907...Arizona State won the most recent matchup, 10-6, earlier this year on April 5 in Phoenix...Coming into this year, Arizona led the series over the last five seasons 10-7 and 22-20 over the previous 10 seasons...The Wildcats have scored at least one run in 210 consecutive games, the longest active scoring streak in the Power Five and the second-longest known streak in program history...Both programs are led by first-year head coaches and alumni: Chip Hale (Arizona) and Willie Bloomquist (Arizona State)...Catcher Daniel Susac leads the Pac-12 and ranks second nationally with 65 hits and paces the conference batting title race with a .382 average...This weekend marks the first conference series between the two rival programs since 2018 (canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic)...Arizona State's most recent series win in Tucson came in 2016 (2-1).
STREAKONOMICS: Outfielder Mac Bingham has reached base safely in 25 straight games, the longest active streak on the team and the longest streak of his career (previous high: 12 games). Over the course of his streak, dating back to March 8 versus New Mexico, Bingham has posted a .327 batting average and a .395 on-base percentage. The lengthy streak has raised his season batting average from .196 to .286 where it currently stands. Infielder Nik McClaughry (18 games) and outfielder Tanner O'Tremba (14 games) also both sport extended on-base streaks; McClaughry is one game shy of his career-long 19-game on-base streak. McClaughry (9 games) and catcher Daniel Susac (8 games) boast the two longest active hit streaks on the team.
RUNNING WILD: Arizona has scored at least one run in 210 straight games — they have not suffered a shutout loss since falling 1-0 at Washington on March 17, 2018. The Wildcats 210-game scoring streak is the longest active streak in the Pac-12 and 85 more games than the next closest team, Oregon (125 games). It is also the longest active streak among all Power Five programs, and the third-longest streak in program history. Over the course of their 210-game scoring stretch, Arizona has been held to three runs or fewer just 35 times. On the flip side, during the streak they have scored five or more runs 121 times. Arizona, Oregon, and West Virginia are the only programs in the Power Five with scoring streaks longer than 100 games.
HOME SWEET HOME: Since Arizona Baseball moved to Hi Corbett Field for the 2012 season, the Wildcats have enjoyed a tremendous home field advantage. Over those 10+ seasons, Arizona has posted a record of 242-102, winning games at a .703 clip. Their home winning percentage over that stretch is the second best mark in the conference.
MAJOR LEAGUE CATS: Six former Wildcats are currently active on Major League rosters. Infielder Bobby Dalbec (Boston Red Sox), right-handed pitcher Tylor Megill (New York Mets), right-handed pitcher Mark Melancon (Arizona Diamondbacks), infielder Kevin Newman (Pittsburgh Pirates), and infielder Alfonso Rivas (Chicago Cubs) all kicked off the 2022 season on Opening Day rosters. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder has his contract selected by the Boston Red Sox on April 19. Infielder J.J. Matijevic joined the ranks when he was called up for the first time on Wednesday, April 20 — as of Friday he had not yet made his Major League debut. Upon his debut he will become the 88th Wildcat in Major League history. Additionally, three former Arizona players are currently serving as Major League coaches: Terry Francona (Manager, Cleveland Guardians), Kevin Long (Hitting Coach, Philadelphia Phillies), and Shelley Duncan (Analytics Coordinator, Chicago White Sox). 23 additional Wildcats are currently competing in Minor League Baseball; a complete list can be found on page five of these notes.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: With a healthy roster and everyone playing in their natural positions, the Arizona defense has improved as of late. The Wildcats recently went five straight games without committing an error, marking the program's longest error-free streak since the 2015 squad strung together seven consecutive flawless defensive performances April 4-19, 2015 against USC, Arizona State, and Oregon State. Outfielder Tanner O'Tremba has been a steady defensive hand for the Wildcats, starting 35 games in the outfield and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 67 chances. Freshman Tommy Splaine, who has started 23 games between first base (18 games) and catcher (5 games), has logged a sparkling .990 fielding percentage on 194 chances. Daniel Susac, Arizona's everyday starting catcher, leads the team with 294 defensive chances this year and has posted a .983 fielding percentage.
BULLPEN BULLIES: A pair of right-handed relievers have been crucial to the Wildcats success this season: Trevor Long and Quinn Flanagan. The dynamic duo of righties have made 35 appearances this year and together posted a combined ERA of 1.17 (7ERx53.2IP). Both Long (.192) and Flanagan (.221) have limited opposing hitters to a paltry batting average. They have excelled in Pac-12 conference play as well, with their ERA in those games sitting at 1.80 (5ERx25.0IP). The pair has held opponents without an earned run in 31-of-35 outings this season. Flanagan in particular has excelled at racking up strikeouts, posting a 10.5 K/9 rate just over two thirds through the regular season campaign.
EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: Through 38 games, the Arizona offense has combined to swat 131 extra-base hits, the second-best mark in the Pac-12. The Wildcats are currently averaging 3.4 extra-base hits per game, with catcher Daniel Susac (24) and outfielders Tanner O'Tremba (19) and Chase Davis (18) leading the way. Arizona has taken advantage of the large dimensions at Hi Corbett Field since moving there in 2012 — in the decade-plus since the move the Wildcats lead the Pac-12 with 1,788 extra-base hits (second: Stanford, 1,631). During that stretch Arizona has paced the conference in doubles six times and triples five times.
Original source can be found here.
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