FRISCO, Texas — The Arizona Wildcats (4-6) held multiple leads and mounted a ninth-inning rally but ultimately fell to the No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0) on a final score of 7-6 at the Frisco Classic on Saturday.
Starting pitcher
Clark Candiotti spun a gem for the Wildcats, going a season-high six innings and limiting the Crimson Tide to four runs while striking out six. He did not factor into the decision.
Arizona's bullpen was also stellar, holding Alabama without an earned run over the final three innings. Right-handers
Tony Pluta and
Matthew Martinez, along with southpaw
Jaeden Swanberg, combined to allow just two hits and struck out a pair of batters.
Shortstop
Mason White and catcher
Blake McDonald both swatted two-run home runs in the fourth inning to give Arizona a 4-0 lead near the midpoint of the game. Alabama followed with three runs in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh to take the lead. Arizona put themselves back in front on an RBI single from White in the bottom of the seventh, before Alabama answered with the two decisive runs in the next half inning.
Arizona put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the ninth but had their rally turned away, creating the final margin of 7-6.
Arizona WildBATS
Bullpen Bullies
Number of the Night
- The Wildcats turned four double plays against Alabama, their most as a team since notching four twin killings against Stanford on March 19, 2022.
Photo of the Night
Social Media Coverage
Next Up
Arizona wraps up their slate at the Frisco Classic with a Sunday morning matchup against No. 20 Indiana. First pitch is schedule for 11:00 a.m. MST. The game will be streamed via
D1Baseball.com.
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