TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (12-13, 6-5) picked up their 3,000th win in program history with a 3-2 walk-off victory over the UCLA Bruins (10-14, 4-7) on Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.
Right fielder
Emilio Corona delivered the Wildcats second walk-off win in as many nights on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded he lifted a ball into center field, sending
Brendan Summerhill sprinting home. Summerhill took down the Bruins in game one on Thursday night with a two-run home run in the 10th inning.
Starting pitcher
Clark Candiotti (2-1) was nothing short of brilliant for the Wildcats, working a complete-game with a career-high 12 strikeouts. The right-hander allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits to earn his second win of the year.
Arizona took the lead in the third with an RBI groundout from third baseman
Richie Morales and made it 2-0 in the fifth with another RBI groundout off the bat of Morales. UCLA battled back to score one run in the eighth and an unearned run in the ninth to tie the game before Corona's heroics grabbed the series win.
Arizona WildBATS
Bullpen Bullies
Numbers of the Night
- Candiotti's effort was the first nine-inning complete game by a Wildcat since Garrett Irvin against UCSB in the 2021 NCAA Tucson Regional.
- His 12 strikeouts mark a career-high, besting his previous high-water mark of 11 while pitching for Wichita State on April 7, 2023 against Houston.
- It was the first 12-strikeout game by an Arizona pitcher since Michael Flynn struck out a dozen Bruins on May 4, 2018 in Tucson.
- Friday's win was the 3,000th victory in program history. Arizona is just the 10th school in NCAA history to reach the 3,000-win milestone.
- Arizona's pitching staff has allowed four or fewer runs in nine consecutive Pac-12 games, the longest streak since the 1982 Wildcats accomplished the feat from April 17 - May 1.
Photo of the Night
Social Media Coverage
Next Up
The Wildcats go for the series sweep of the Bruins on Saturday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field. First pitch on the Pac-12 Networks is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MST.
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