TUCSON, Ariz. - Joe Forbes hit his first career home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Arizona baseball team a 6-5 lead it would not relinquish, as the Wildcats recorded 10 hits en route to a clutch victory over Houston in the final game of the 2026 season at Hi Corbett Field.
Patrick Morris earned the win on the mound, while Houston reliever Caleb Kimble was charged with the loss.
Offensively, Carson McEntire, Cash Brennan, and Beau Sylvester led the way for the Wildcats, with all three players recording at least two hits. McEntire posted a season-high and game-high three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Sylvester turned in his second straight multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while Brennan also recorded his second consecutive multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Forbes delivered the biggest hit of the night with the go-ahead solo home run, while Maddox Mihalakis came through with a game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Evan Brandt made his first start of the season on the mound and delivered a superb outing, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.
Morris was sensational in relief, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings and surrendering just two hits without issuing a walk.
The Wildcats struck first, plating two runs in the second inning to build an early 2-0 lead. After Andrew Cain drew a leadoff walk, Brennan singled to put two on with no outs. McEntire then laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases. Jackson Forbes followed with a fielder's choice that brought home a run, and two batters later Nate Novitske reached on an error that allowed a second run to score.
Arizona added to its lead in the third frame when Sylvester led off with a triple off the wall in right field. Two batters later, Cain lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Sylvester. Brennan then recorded his second hit of the day with a double to left field, and McEntire ripped an RBI single through the left side to extend the Wildcats' lead to 4-0.
The two teams went scoreless over the next two innings before Houston scored five runs in the sixth to take its first lead of the game.
Arizona answered in the bottom of the seventh. After a groundout opened the inning, Sylvester drew a walk. Mihalakis then delivered in a big moment, driving a double deep to left field to score Sylvester and tie the game at 5-5.
The Wildcats entered the bottom of the eighth with the game still tied, and after the first two batters were retired, Joe Forbes stepped to the plate. Facing a full count, Forbes fouled off back-to-back pitches before turning on a fastball and launching a 412-foot home run to left field that proved to be the game-winner.
Morris retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to shut the door and secure the victory for Arizona.
The Wildcats travel to Oklahoma State for the final three games of the regular season, beginning Thursday at 4 p.m. (MST).
