p the season, Big 12 coaches predicted TCU would win the conference with Arizona finishing second. Neither team has lived up to those expectations so far, but for one night the Wildcats looked the part of a contender.
The UA won 4-3 at TCU on Friday night in the opener of a 3-game series, only the second time in Big 12 play it has started off a weekend with a win. And combined with Wednesday’s victory over New Mexico State gives the Wildcats (12-21, 4-9) their first consecutive wins since mid-March
A sacrifice fly by Maddox Mihalakis scored pinch runner TJ Adams in the top of the 9th, then in the bottom of the inning Garrett Hicks stranded the tying run at third base and the winning run at second with a strikeout.
Mihalakis drove in two runs, as did No. 9 hitter Mathis Meurant, while Tony Lira was 4 for 5 for Arizona, which led 3-1 before TCU (20-13, 7-6).
Those tying runs came against starter Owen Kramkowski, who had one of his best starts of the season. The junior right-hander struck out nine and didn’t allow a walk over 6.2 innings, retiring 12 in a row at one point before the Horned Frogs recorded four hits in the 7th including back-to-back run-scoring singles with two out.
Maclain Roberts finished out the 7th and then threw a scoreless 8th to get the win, then Hicks picked up his fourth save.
Arizona and TCU will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m. PT, a change in the schedule due to rain in the forecast on Sunday. One win will give the Wildcats their first Big 12 series win this season.
