Wildcats Top Tritons, 9-8, in Wild Tournament Finale

Monday, February 20

Mesa, Ariz.

1:00 PM

University of Arizona

3-1

UC San Diego

1-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Arizona	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	4	9	11	1
UC San Diego	0	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	3	8	12	0

Photo by: Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics

Wildcats Top Tritons, 9-8, in Wild Tournament Finale

02/20/2023 | Baseball

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By: Arizona Athletics

MESA, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (3-1) came away victorious, 9-8, over the UC San Diego Tritons (1-3) on Monday afternoon in a game that featured four lead changes and 13 runs over the final three frames.

Arizona scored all nine of their runs in the final four innings of the game, including a four-run rally in the ninth that ultimately proved to be decisive. Kiko Romero snuck an RBI single inside the bag at third to give the Wildcats the final-inning lead and Mac Bingham smoked a three-run home run in the very next at-bat to cap Arizona's scoring.

The Tritons scored three in the bottom of the ninth to make it a one-run game, but Bingham tracked down a well-hit ball in left-center field to seal the victory.

Starting pitcher Aiden May worked four innings in his Arizona debut, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. He did not factor into the decision.

Right-handed reliever Trevor Long (1-0) worked the final two innings and earned the win.

Arizona WildBATS

C Cameron LaLiberte: 3-for-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI
CF Mac Bingham: 1-for-5, R, HR, 3 RBI
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
PH/RF Tyler Casagrande: 1-for-2, RBI
SS Nik McClaughry: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB

Bullpen Bullies

LHP Eric Orloff: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K
RHP George Arias Jr.: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
RHP Casey Hintz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R

Number of the Day

With three RBI on Monday afternoon, catcher Cameron LaLiberte quadrupled his career RBI total.

Photo of the Day

Social Media Coverage

Kiko and Casey bringing home the belt! ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/XoC8lW4gN4
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

Return of the Mac ?????? #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/9B8eGvVD1A
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

KIKOOOOOOOO! Wildcats take the lead in the 9th! ?? #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/khxiP4ynxn
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

We've got a wild one in Mesa! @Cam_La32 comes up clutch again to even things at 5-5 in the 8th ?? #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/sPjNxs0U2K
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

?? We now take a break from your regularly scheduled in-game coverage to announce...

TJ Nichols is your Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week! ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/FGpYJkTTep
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

Big ?? coming up clutch!! Cats take the lead in the 7th! #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/320tVtD2qe
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

Tie ballgame! Two-run double from @Cam_La32 evens things in Mesa ?? #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/3E2yCTHo8c
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

Cats are on the board! Two-out double to the wall from @tonybullard13 cuts into the UCSD lead #BearDown

?? https://t.co/1UG3ROBtrq pic.twitter.com/qDoVJPhhbJ
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) February 20, 2023

Next Up

Arizona returns home to Hi Corbett Field for their 2023 home opener against West Virginia on Friday, Feb. 24. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased at ArizonaWildcats.com/BSB.