Since moving to Hi Corbett Field for the 2012 season, Arizona has benefitted from a distinct home field advantage. The Wildcats are 315-129 at the park that previously had been used for minor league and Spring Training games, their 24-6 record there in 2025 the behind only the 2021 record of 32-8.
The UA can use a little home cooking after beginning the season on the road, and without a win. Arizona went 0-3 in Surprise during opening weekend, the second year in a row it went winless in a tournament
before playing at home.
A 5-game homestand kicks off Tuesday night when Arizona hosts Omaha at 6 p.m. MT at Hi Corbett Field. That’s followed by a 4-game series with UConn starting Thursday, with two night games and two afternoon tilts.
The Wildcats lost 10-7 to Stanford, 7-6 to Oregon State and 4-1 to Michigan in Surprise, each a game they could have won with just a little more hitting and a little less mid-innings implosion from the bullpen. UA batters struck out 42 times, 33 in the first two games, and five relievers combined to allow 12 runs in 6.2 innings.
It wasn’t all bad, though. Arizona’s overhauled offense had 27 hits, with redshirt freshman first baseman Tony Lira looking impressive with five hits over the final two games. Senior shortstop Mathis Meurant hit .375 and had a pair of stolen bases and transfer second baseman Tyler Bickers drew four walks out of the leadoff spot.
Collin McKinney’s performance on Sunday was also promising, the redshirt junior right-hander striking out eight (with only two walks) in 4.2 innings. Last season he couldn’t stay in the rotation due to too many free passes (35) and hit batters (14).
The most impressive relief performance came from senior righty Matthew Martinez, who against Stanford threw three scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
The Wildcats used 24 players during the first weekend including 10 pitchers. One arm that didn’t see action was freshman righty Jack Lafflam, who is expected to start against Omaha.
That game could also see the 2026 debut of junior outfielder Easton Breyfogle, who missed the first three games after injuring his left (non-throwing) shoulder sliding into home during the final weekend of preseason practice.
Arizona has never started a season 0-4. It hadn’t begun 0-3 since 1919 until last February, when it was outscored 31-7 at a tournament in Texas but went on to win the Big 12’s conference tournament and reach the College World Series.
