Romero Walk-Off Sends Wildcats to Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals

Wednesday, May 24

Scottsdale, Ariz.

10:00 AM

University of Arizona

32-23

Oregon State

39-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon State	4	0	2	0	2	0	2	2	0	12	17	1
Arizona	2	1	1	1	1	6	0	0	1	13	20	1

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Athletics

Romero Walk-Off Sends Wildcats to Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals

05/24/2023 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Arizona Athletics

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — First baseman Kiko Romero played hero for the Arizona Wildcats (32-23) on Wednesday morning, lining a walk-off single up the middle to defeat the Oregon State Beavers (39-17) on a final score of 13-12.

Romero's game-winning knock secured the Wildcats a spot in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals on Friday; Arizona's first pitch time and opponent in the semifinals are still to be determined.

The ninth inning winner capped an electrifying back-and-forth affair in which the Wildcats erased an early 4-0 lead and scored in all but seven innings. Romero and left fielder Chase Davis both homered in the comeback effort and combined to drive in seven runs.

The Wildcats used six pitchers to defeat the Beavers, but none gathered more important outs that right-hander Chris Barraza. the Tucson native earned the final two outs of the eighth and returned to the mound for the ninth. A leadoff double, a wild pitch, and a walk put runners on the corners with no outs before Barraza wiggled out of the jam with a lineout and back-to-back strikeouts.

Starting pitcher Cam Walty worked three innings and struck out three but did not factor into the decision.

Arizona WildBATS

1B Kiko Romero: 3-for-5, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB
3B Tony Bullard: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
LF Chase Davis: 2-for-6, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
SS Nik McClaughry: 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, RBI
CF Mac Bingham: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, BB
RF Emilio Corona: 3-for-5, R, 2B

Bullpen Bullies

LHP Eric Orloff: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
RHP Dawson Netz: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
RHP Chris Barraza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, Win (5-2)

Number of the Day

With four RBI on Wednesday morning, Kiko Romero moved into a tie for second on the Arizona single-season leaderboard with 84.
Arizona swatted three home runs on Wednesday, giving them 89 on the year, the second most in program history.

Photo of the Night

Social Media Coverage

??? ON TO THE SEMIS! #BearDown pic.twitter.com/y3CDEI38gl
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

WALK. OFF. WINNER!!! #BearDown @KikoRomero_2 called game! pic.twitter.com/NPi5PK96GN
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

??? YES BREEZY!!!! Back-to-back strikeouts to strand Beavers on the corners! #BearDown

Mid 9 | Arizona 12, Oregon State 12 pic.twitter.com/D6eZkUAcFl
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

Freshman's got wheels!! ??????? First pitch swingin' and @masonwhite24 extends the lead ?? #BearDown

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/bpn84AGCvd pic.twitter.com/mw0tHr5hsT
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

Playoff Tony™? #BearDown

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/bpn84AGCvd pic.twitter.com/4YssFSuUsv
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

Watch it fly ????? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/BQvd2asfqX
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

1, 2, skip a few... 2??0?? home runs this year for CD! #BearDown

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/bpn84AGCvd pic.twitter.com/J68wPL0189
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

Cats are in the ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/DFO4MdMRMY
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) May 24, 2023

Next Up

Arizona has advanced to the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals on Friday, May 27. They await the outcome of games on Wednesday and Thursday to determine their opponent and first pitch time. Tickets for the tournament can be purchased HERE.