Wildcats Upset No. 2 Tennessee on Opening Night

Friday, February 17

Scottsdale, Ariz.

6:00 PM

University of Arizona

1-0

Tennessee

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Tennessee	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
Arizona	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	3	7	1

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics

02/17/2023 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Arizona Athletics

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (1-0) opened their 2023 campaign with a 3-1 upset victory over the No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers (0-1) at the MLB Desert Invitational.

Senior third baseman Tony Bullard hit the go-ahead home run in the second inning and contributed elite defense on his birthday to help propel the Wildcats to the win.

Starting pitcher TJ Nichols (1-0) was electric for the Wildcats, turning in arguably the best performance of his collegiate career. Nichols finished the night after six innings, having allowed just one run on three hits while striking out six. He earned the win.

The Cats bullpen surrendered just three hits and struck out four down the stretch to slam the door shut on the Vols.

Arizona WildBATS

3B Tony Bullard: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI
CF Mac Bingham: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, R, BB

Bullpen Bullies

LHP Eric Orloff: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Dawson Netz: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
RHP Trevor Long: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, Save (1)

Number of the Night

With Friday night's upset, the Wildcats have now won 15 consecutive Opening Day games.

Photo of the Night

Social Media Coverage

ARIZONA TAKES DOWN #2 TENNESSEE#BearDown | @ArizonaBaseball pic.twitter.com/xenUUrzy84
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) February 18, 2023

The first Player of the Game Belt winner of 2023 is @tonybullard13! ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/q470P42kt9
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 18, 2023

That's a HUGE insurance run courtesy of @mbingham7_! ?? #BearDown

?? @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/jzsn9zY4g0
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 18, 2023

Birthday Tony™? with the ????? #BearDown

?? @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/Kh5tgVczkg
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 18, 2023

Great seeing @danielsusac10 back in the Cats dugout! ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/ja5vFDwBJL
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 18, 2023

?? would be an understatement. An absolute masterpiece from TJ tonight! #BearDown

Final line: 6? IP, 3? hits, 1? run, 6? K pic.twitter.com/VVa2S4RNKi
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 18, 2023

"I should stay here the whole game!" ??@JuanSoto25_ seems to be quite the good luck charm for @ArizonaBaseball!

?? MLB Desert Invitational on MLB Network pic.twitter.com/XJYtUHpUzK
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 18, 2023

Next Up

Arizona faces Fresno State on Saturday afternoon at the MLB Desert Invitational. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. MST with a live web stream available on MLB.com.