TUCSON, Ariz. - Smith Bailey tossed a career-high seven innings and struck out a career-best nine, Maddox Mihalakis had three hits and drove in three runs, and the University of Arizona baseball team secured a series victory with a 9-5 win over Fresno State on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (5-9) have now won four of their past five games and set a new season-high with nine runs in the victory over Fresno State (7-6).
Arizona posted 12 hits for the second consecutive game and eight different Wildcats tallied at least one hit.
Bailey was sensational for the second consecutive outing, as he picked up the victory after tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while setting a new career mark with nine strikeouts. Garrett Hicks collected his first save of the season, as he threw 1.1 innings to close out the game and did not allow a run.
Offensively, Mihalakis led the way for Arizona with two doubles and a single, as he drove in three runs and scored two runs himself. Tony Lira and Andrew Cain each tallied two hits apiece, and Cain scored two runs, while Lira scored one run and had one RBI.
Carson McEntire had his third home run of the season, launching a two-run shot to left field, and Tyler Bickers, TJ Adams, and Roman Meyers each had one hit and one RBI.
Bailey set the tone early, and Arizona struck first for the second straight game. Mihalakis had the first hit of the night for the Wildcats in the bottom of the second, a double to right-center field. Meyers and McEntire each followed with a walk to load the bases and bring Adams to the plate. Adams hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Maddox and giving Arizona an early 1-0 lead.
Bailey continued to shut down the Fresno State offense, and the Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Adams was hit by a pitch with one out and proceeded to advance to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Adams advanced to third on a passed ball. Bickers then singled to left-center field and Adams scored on the play.
Bailey's exceptional outing ended after the seventh, as he retired three of the four batters he faced in the half inning to complete his dominant performance.
The Wildcats increased their lead in the bottom of the seventh, with Andrew Cain igniting the inning with a one-out walk. Mihalakis then laced a ball deep to right-center field for his second double of the day, and Cain scored from first on the play. Meyers followed up the double with a single that brought Mihalakis home. After Meyers advanced to second on a wild pitch, McEntire turned on a pitch inside and launched a ball well over the wall in left field for a two-run shot, giving Arizona a 6-0 lead.
The Wildcats surrendered five runs in the top of the eighth, as Fresno State made it a one-run game. Arizona's offense responded in strong fashion in the bottom half of the inning, as Nate Novitske led off with a double. Lira then singled to bring Novitske home, before Cain had a single of his own and advanced to second on the play, putting two runners in scoring position. Mihalakis delivered once again, singling through the right side of the infield to score both runners and extend Arizona's advantage up to 9-5.
Hicks retired three of four batters he faced in the ninth to secure the victory.
Arizona will return to the field on Sunday at 12 p.m. for the final game of the series against Fresno State.
