Arizona traveled a long way to get to its Big 12 series, and then watched its opponent hit the ball a long way out of the stadium over and over.
Wildcat pitchers allowed four home runs in an 11-6 loss at UCF on Friday night in Orlando. It was the most homers yielded in a game since Game 1 of the Super Regionals last year at North Carolina.
Arizona (9-16, 2-5 Big 12) hit three homers of its own, getting a 2-run shot from Nate Novitske in the top of the 1st, a solo homer by Carson McEntire in the 5th
and a 2-run bomb by Jackson Forbes in the 8th. But the Knights (16-8, 6-1) took the lead for good with a 3-run 3rd that included the first of two homers by John Smithill.
Owen Kramkowski allowed six runs (five earned) in six innings, dropping to 1-3. Relievers Maclain Roberts and Matthew Martinez didn’t do much better, each giving up a homer.
Game 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. PT Saturday, with right-hander Smith Bailey on the mound.
