TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (14-9, 3-6) continue their extended homestand with a three-game series against the Oregon Ducks (15-7, 3-3) this weekend at Hi Corbett Field. 

This weekend's promotional slate is highlighted by Bark in the Park for Friday's opener; fans are encouraged to bring their canine friends to the ballpark and enjoy K-9 innings of action. The full promo schedule for the 2023 season can be found here. Tickets for the weekend can be secured by visiting ArizonaWildcats.com/BSB.

The Wildcats return to Pac-12 Conference play after earning an extra-innings, walk-off victory over Grand Canyon on Tuesday night. 

Arizona has thrived at home this season, posting a 10-2 record and currently sporting a 10-game win streak within the friendly confines of Hi Corbett Field.

For more, a complete weekend preview is below.
 

Date	Opponent	Time (MST)	Arizona Pitcher	Opponent Pitcher
Friday, March 31	Oregon	6:00 PM	RHP TJ Nichols (3-2, 5.29)	RHP Jace Stoffal (2-2, 4.64)
Saturday, April 1	Oregon	6:00 PM	LHP Bradon Zastrow (2-1, 4.71)	RHP Logan Mercado (2-0, 5.33)
Sunday, April 2	Oregon	1:00 PM	TBA	RHP Leo Uelman (2-2, 5.86)

Leading Off...

• The Arizona Wildcats and Oregon Ducks face off in a three-game series this weekend at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. All three games will be live streamed and broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• Arizona and Oregon have played each other 50 times in program history, with games dating back to 1954 and the Wildcats holding a 28-21-1 edge in the all-time series. Arizona leads the series over the last five years, 8-5, while Oregon leads over the last 10 years, 20-13.
• The Wildcats were swept in a three-game series last year in Eugene but turned around to beat the Ducks, 8-6, in the opening game of the 2022 Pac-12 Tournament. Arizona won the last series against Oregon in Tucson, 2-1, in 2021.
• Six Wildcats made MLB Opening Day rosters on Thursday: Cesar Salazar (Astros), Kevin Ginkel (Diamondbacks), Kevin Newman (Reds), Andrew Nardi (Marlins), Mark Melancon (Diamondbacks), and Rob Refsnyder (Red Sox).
• Outfielder Chase Davis hit his ninth and 10th home runs of the season on Tuesday against Grand Canyon, giving him 28 career home runs. He is three home runs shy of breaking into the Wildcats career Top 10.
• Arizona's .978 fielding percentage currently ranks second in the Pac-12 behind only Washington (.984). Their 19 errors are tied for second-fewest in the conference. The Wildcats finished 2022 ninth in the Pac-12 in fielding percentage.
• The 74 walks issued by Arizona pitchers this year are the third-fewest in the Pac-12. They are walking batters at a BB/9 rate of 3.23.

SOME SERIES THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats and Oregon Ducks are set for a three-game series this weekend at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson...All three games in the series will be available to watch via Arizona Live Stream-3 as well as broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries...Arizona and Oregon have played each other 50 times in program history, with games dating back to 1954 and the Wildcats holding a 28-21-1 edge in the all-time series...Arizona leads the series over the last five years, 8-5, while Oregon leads over the last 10 years, 20-13...The Wildcats were swept in a three-game series last year in Eugene but turned around to beat the Ducks, 8-6, in the opening game of the 2022 Pac-12 Tournament...Arizona won the last series against Oregon in Tucson, 2-1, in 2021...Oregon is led by fourth-year head coach Mark Wasikowski, who spent 10 years in Tucson as an assistant coach for the Wildcats under head coach Andy Lopez...Arizona is 10-2 at home this season, including a perfect 3-0 record in Pac-12 Conference games at Hi Corbett Field.

MLB WILDCATS: As Major League Baseball kicked off their 2023 season on Thursday, six former Wildcats found themselves on Opening Day rosters: Cesar Salazar (Houston Astros), Kevin Newman (Cincinnati Reds), Andrew Nardi (Miami Marlins), Rob Refsnyder (Boston Red Sox), Kevin Ginkel (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Mark Melancon (Arizona Diamondbacks). Salazar made the Astros Opening Day roster and awaits his opportunity to make his Major League debut, upon which he would become the 93rd Wildcat in MLB history. Melancon is likely to begin the season on the Diamondbacks injured list. There are 10 other former Wildcats currently playing organized baseball who have already made their Major League debuts, along with 18 more who are working hard to earn their first shot.

STREAKONOMICS: No Wildcat currently rides a hit streak longer than two games: Chase Davis, Kiko Romero, Cameron LaLiberte, and Nik McClaughry all have active two-game streaks. Davis (22 games) and fellow outfielder Mac Bingham (21 games) currently sport the longest on-base streaks on the team. Dating back to the end of the 2022 campaign, Davis has reached base safely in 36 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career.

WHAT A RELIEF: Wildcats reliever Trevor Long, a multi-year member of the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year Watch List, has logged 11 career saves. He currently ranks 10th on the Wildcats all-time saves leaderboard. Should he match last year's save total of seven and tally 14 career saves, he would move into a tie for fifth all time along with Bobby Dalbec (2014-16) and Ryan Moskau (1997-98). His seven saves last season were tied for 11th most in a single season in program history and ranked tied for fifth in the Pac-12. Dating back to last season, Long has held opponents without an earned run in 35-of-44 appearances.

NO FREE RIDES: The Arizona pitching staff has excelled at limiting walks this season, allowing an average of just 3.23 BB/9. Twice this year the Wildcats have issued just one walk, bested only by their zero-walk performance in the series opener against Arizona State on March 24. Arizona's mark of 3.23 is the second-best mark in the Pac-12 — behind only UCLA (3.05) — and down significantly from their 2019 mark of 5.33 BB/9.

HOME SWEET HOME: Since Arizona Baseball moved to Hi Corbett Field for the 2012 season, the Wildcats have enjoyed a tremendous home field advantage. Over those 11+ seasons, Arizona has posted a record of 259-108, winning games at a .706 clip. Their home winning percentage over that stretch is the second best mark in the conference.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Arizona finished the 2022 season having turned an astounding 57 double plays, the best mark in the Pac-12 and the fourth best mark among all 293 Division I programs. The Wildcats returned both of their middle infielders from last season: shortstop Nik McClaughry and Garen Caulfield. McClaughry led the Pac-12 last season with 189 defensive assists and played a role in 40 of Arizona's 57 double plays; he is currently second in the conference with 62 defensive assists this year. Caulfield was close behind, having played a part in 39-of-57 twin killings in 2022. Currently, the Wildcats are tied for the conference lead with 20 double plays turned in 23 games.

ALFA ROMERO: Junior Kiko Romero, a transfer from Central Arizona College, is expected to play a large role for the Wildcats in 2023 after three seasons with the Vaqueros. He returns to Tucson, where he played his high school ball, after leading Central Arizona to an NJCAA World Series Championship in 2022. As a sophomore last year he hit 366 with 95 runs scored, 22 doubles, five triples, 25 home runs, and 84 RBI. His six-home run performance, tied for a tournament record, at the NJCAA World Series earned him tournament MVP and Outstanding Hitter honors. Romero prepped at Canyon Del Oro HS in Tucson where he was a three-year letterwinner in baseball and a one-time letterwinner in golf.

EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: Through 23 games, the Arizona offense has combined to swat 102 extra-base hits, the best mark in the Pac-12. The Wildcats are currently averaging 4.4 extra-base hits per game. Arizona has taken advantage of the large dimensions at Hi Corbett Field since moving there in 2012 — in the decade-plus since the move off campus the Wildcats hold the Pac-12 lead with 1,985 extra-base hits (second: Stanford, 1,868). During that stretch Arizona has paced the conference in doubles six times and triples six times.