The Wildcats are 0-2 in the classic after a pair of one-run losses to both DBU and Alabama. They had a one-run lead on Alabama going into the 8th today, but they gave up two runs in the top of the inning to give Bama a 7-6 lead and that would be the final. Arizona used four pitchers today and they enter the game against IU with a 4-6 record.
Who’s Hot Right Now?
Arizona was hoping for a bounce back year from fifth-year senior second baseman Garen Caulfield, and his torrid start is very encouraging. He leads the team with a .500 average (13-for-26) and has 10 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Brendan Summerhill was one of the top breakout candidates on this roster thanks to his combination of physicality and athleticism, and he has been a fearsome run producer thus far, hitting .438 while leading the team with five doubles and 15 RBIs. On the mound, Arizona has also gotten promising starts in the rotation from righthanders Jackson Kent (1-0, 3.00, 13-3 K-BB in 12 IP) and Clark Candiotti (0-0, 3.60, 11-2 K-BB in 10 IP).
The Skinny On The Wildcats
Arizona made a splash in Week One by taking two of three at home against preseason No. 23 Northeastern. The Wildcats suffered a setback in Week Two, dropping two of three on the road at San Diego, leaving them with a 4-3 record heading into a road trip to the MetroPlex, which kicks off with a Wednesday game at TCU prior to the Frisco Classic. Arizona has hit for good power in the first two weeks, smacking nine homers and slugging .522 as a team, to go along with a .324 batting average. But the pitching staff has gotten off to an uneven start, posting an aggregate 5.16 ERA — respectable but not great. Overall, Arizona looks like a better club than most expected, likely to outperform its preseason forecast as the No. 9 team in the Pac-12 (according to both the league coaches and D1Baseball).Who’s Hot Right Now?
Arizona was hoping for a bounce-back year from fifth-year senior second baseman Garen Caulfield, and his torrid start is very encouraging. He leads the team with a .500 average (13-for-26) and has 10 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Brendan Summerhill was one of the top breakout candidates on this roster thanks to his combination of physicality and athleticism, and he has been a fearsome run producer thus far, hitting .438 while leading the team with five doubles and 15 RBIs. On the mound, Arizona has also gotten promising starts in the rotation from righthanders Jackson Kent (1-0, 3.00, 13-3 K-BB in 12 IP) and Clark Candiotti (0-0, 3.60, 11-2 K-BB in 10 IP).Star Power: Mason White
Our Mike Rooney recently called White “one of the toughest outs on the West Coast, and he also can drive the ball with authority. After hitting .313/.379/.611 with 10 homers and 18 doubles during his standout freshman campaign last spring, White is off to a solid start in 2024, hitting .310/.382/.655 with three homers and 12 RBIs. But his transition from second base to shortstop has been a bit rocky, as he already has committed three errors, leading to an .893 fielding percentage in this small sample size. Still, he has the athleticism and actions to handle the position ably, and we expect him to settle in there.Who’s Hot Right Now?
Arizona was hoping for a bounce back year from fifth-year senior second baseman Garen Caulfield, and his torrid start is very encouraging. He leads the team with a .500 average (13-for-26) and has 10 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Brendan Summerhill was one of the top breakout candidates on this roster thanks to his combination of physicality and athleticism, and he has been a fearsome run producer thus far, hitting .438 while leading the team with five doubles and 15 RBIs. On the mound, Arizona has also gotten promising starts in the rotation from righthanders Jackson Kent (1-0, 3.00, 13-3 K-BB in 12 IP) and Clark Candiotti (0-0, 3.60, 11-2 K-BB in 10 IP).
