Though it lost two of three at Utah last weekend in its first Big 12 series, Arizona showed plenty of fight by tying or taking the lead in the 9th inning of each game. Unfortunately, that kind of effort didn’t come back with the Wildcats from Salt Lake City.
The UA lost 6-3 to New Mexico on Tuesday night at Hi Corbett Field, its third loss in a row overall. Arizona (7-14) is 0-4 on midweek games this season.
“We didn’t play good baseball,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “It’s been a bad thing for us.”
Arizona
led 3-1 after scoring three times in the bottom of the 2nd, though only one run came via a hit. But after that the Wildcats managed only four hits, getting a runner into scoring position just twice.
“We just didn’t sustain at-bats,” Hale said. “Not a very good job of our offense, at home, at our ballpark.”
New Mexico (14-7) retook the lead with four in the 3rd, chasing starter Collin McKinney. The Lobos added a run in the 5th but otherwise leaned on their bullpen to shut down Arizona, using seven pitchers.
There were a few bright spots for Arizona, from a pair of true freshmen. Right fielder Caleb Danzeisen was on base three times, raising his average to .288, and right-hander Benton Hickman retired all nine batters he faced with four strikeouts in what was by far the best outing of his career.
The UA remains home this weekend to host Texas Tech (13-6, 2-1 Big 12). The Red Raiders took two of three from the Wildcats in Lubbock last season.
