IRVINE, Calif. — The Arizona Wildcats (6-6, 1-0) kicked off Pac-12 Conference play with a bang on Friday night, riding an offensive explosion to a 16-9 victory over the USC Trojans (3-10, 0-1).
Arizona's offense plated 16 runs on 15 hits and six walks, with just three hits going for extra bases. The Wildcats opened the scoring with a two-run home run from
Emilio Corona in the top of the first and pulled away from the Trojans with a seven-run third inning.
USC rallied for seven runs across the middle innings before Arizona put the game away with a pair of two-run frames in the seventh and eighth.Â
Wildcats starting pitcher
Jackson Kent (2-0) picked up his second win of the year following five innings of three-run work. The left-hander struck out nine to set a career-high and allowed only five hits.
Arizona's win on Friday improved their record in conference openers under head coach
Chip Hale to 2-1. It also marked the Wildcats first win in a road conference series opener since beating Utah 7-6 on April 14, 2022.
Arizona WildBATS
- 2B Garen Caulfield: 4-for-5, 3 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB
- RF Emilio Corona: 2-for-4, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
- 3B Richie Morales: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI
- C Tommy Splaine: 2-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI
- SS Mason White: 2-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI
- CF Brendan Summerhill: 1-for-5, 3 R, BB
Bullpen Bullies
Numbers of the Night
- Arizona's 16 runs are their most scored in a conference opener since scoring 19 in a 19-4 win over UCLA in 2017.
- The Wildcats pitching staff stuck out 16 Trojan batters, their most in a single game this season and the most posted by an Arizona staff since fanning 17 against Dixie State on March 1, 2022.
Social Media Coverage
Next Up
Arizona looks to secure the series win in game two against USC on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. MST.
Â
