SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The University of Arizona baseball team had another clutch ninth inning rally to take the lead for the second straight game, however, the Wildcats fell to Utah 8-7 on Sunday after the Utes scored three runs in the bottom half of the final frame.

Arizona (7-12, 1-2) had nine hits and 10 walks in the game, while Utah (11-6, 2-1) recorded 10 hits and three walks.

The Wildcats had 10 different players reach base and seven separate players with a hit, including Beau Sylvester and Tony Lira who had two hits apiece. 

Lira Lira was outstanding, going 2-for-4 with a 477-foot home run while drawing two walks, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Sylvester was 2-4 and had a clutch hit to tie the game in the top of the ninth, as he had an RBI, a run scored, and also drew a walk. Andrew Cain reached base three times, posting one hit and two walks, and the junior had one RBI. Jackson Forbes went 1-4 with a walk, but had two RBI in the top of the ninth to give Arizona the lead.

Luc Fladda started on the mound and had another impressive outing. The senior pitched seven innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out three.

After a leadoff flyout, Arizona recorded three consecutive doubles to begin the game, as Lira, Cain, and Mihalakis each delivered an extra-base hit, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Arizona increased its lead in the second inning, adding two more runs. Carson McEntire opened the inning with a walk, followed by back-to-back outs. Lira came up to bat and launched the second pitch he saw 477 feet to clear the fence in center field with ease to extend Arizona's lead. 

Fladda gave up a double to begin the bottom of the second, but worked around it to retire three straight batters. He continued his strong performance by retiring the next nine batters he saw during the 3rd-5th innings. 

The Utes got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth with a home run to trim the Wildcats lead down to 4-2. 

Utah added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take their first lead of the game, a 5-4 advantage over the Cats.

Lira led off in the top of the ninth with a walk, and after back-to-back outs, Caleb Danzeisen also walked to put two runners on base with two outs. 

Sylvester stepped up to the plate with Arizona down to its final out. Sylvester swung and missed the first pitch he saw, before fouling off the second pitch, as he faced an 0-2 count. The senior dug in and roped a clutch double down the left field line to score a run and tie the game. Forbes was up next, and he delivered for the second consecutive day. The freshman swung at the first pitch he saw and singled to center field, scoring Danzeisen and Sylvester to put the Wildcats ahead 7-5. 

Unfortunately, Utah responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to walk off the Wildcats, securing the 8-7 victory.

The Wildcats will return to Tucson to host New Mexico on Tuesday at Hi Corbett Field. First pitch against the Lobos is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (MST).