Arizona Suffers 7-5 Setback to Grand Canyon

Tuesday, March 3

Tucson, Ariz. / Hi Corbett Field

6:00 PM MST

University of Arizona

3-9

Grand Canyon

6-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Grand Canyon	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	13	0
Arizona	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	5	10	2

03/03/2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona baseball team dropped a 7-5 decision to Grand Canyon Tuesday night in a tightly contested matchup at Hi Corbett Field.

The Wildcats (3-9) recorded double-digit hits for the second consecutive game; however, they surrendered three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

Nate Novitske continued his recent stretch of exceptional play by going 2-5 at the plate with two RBI, marking his fourth straight multi-hit performance.

Tony Lira also had a standout performance, going 3-5 with one RBI and one run scored. Beau Sylvester and Cash Brennan recorded two hits apiece, and Jackson Forbes hit the first home run of his young career.

Arizona also received tremendous performances from relief pitchers Maclain Roberts and Matthew Martinez. Roberts pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. Martinez tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, retiring six of the eight batters that he faced and striking out four.

Arizona's offense got going early, as Caleb Danzeisen scored in the first inning to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Danzeisen led off the inning with a walk, before Novitske and Lira posted back-to-back singles, the second of which plated Danzeisen.

Grand Canyon responded in the top of the second, scoring two runs in the frame.

The Antelopes tacked on two more runs in the top of the third, building a 4-1 advantage over Arizona.

The Wildcats were able to get one run back in the bottom half of the inning to trim the deficit. Lira opened the inning by doubling off the left-center field wall, and advanced to third on a groundout in the next at-bat. Dom Rodriguez then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Lira home.

After Roberts retired the side in the top of the fourth, Sylvester led off in the bottom half of the frame by singling to right field. Brennan followed and laid down a perfect bunt to reach first base and advance Sylvester to second. After a flyout, Danzeisen grounded out, but Sylvester and Brennan each advanced on the play. Novitske stepped up to the plate in a critical situation, as Arizona trailed by two with two runners on and two outs. The redshirt freshman delivered in a tremendous way, singling through the right side of the infield to bring both runners home and tie the game at four runs apiece.

Both offenses went quiet over the next four innings, and the two squads entered the ninth frame deadlocked at 4-4.

Grand Canyon pushed across three unearned runs in the top of the ninth to take a 7-4 lead.

After a line out to start the bottom of the ninth, Forbes entered the game as a pinch hitter. With the Wildcats trailing by three and in need of a spark, Forbes swung at the first pitch he saw and launched a ball well over the right field wall for the first home run of his career. After Danzeisen drew a walk, Arizona had a strike out and fly out to end the game, as the Wildcats fell 7-5.

Arizona will return to the field on Friday when they will host Fresno State at Hi Corbett Field in the first game of a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.