2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball team explained

Year:2021
Head Coach:Jay Johnson
Short Conf:Pac-12
Cbrank:6
Ac3 Year:6th
Asst Coach3:Marc Wanaka
Ac2 Year:6th
Asst Coach2:Dave Lawn
Ac1 Year:2nd
Asst Coach1:Nate Yeskie
Hc Year:6th
Mode:baseball
Prev Year:2020
Conf Record:21–9
Record:45–18
Conference:Pac-12 Conference
Team:Arizona Wildcats
Next Year:2022
Stadium:Hi Corbett Field
Champion:Tucson Super Regional Champions
Tucson Regional Champions
Pac-12 Regular Season Champions
Bowl:College World Series

The 2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Arizona during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wildcats played their home games for the 10th season at Hi Corbett Field. The team was coached by Jay Johnson in his 6th season and final season at Arizona. Following the season, Coach Johnson was hired as the head baseball coach at Louisiana State University. The Wildcats ranked 10th in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll[1] - their highest preseason ranking in any poll since 2013 - and their incoming recruiting class was ranked 4th in the nation by D1Baseball.[2] On May 23, the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the Pac-12 Championship for the first time since the 2012 season that saw the team win the College World Series.[3] Following a 3-11 loss by the Oregon Ducks to the California Golden Bears on May 28, the team clinched their first outright Pac-12 title since 1989.[4] On May 30, Hi Corbett Field was selected as one of the NCAA's 16 postseason Regional sites for the first time since 2012. The following day the Wildcats were selected as the tournaments No. 5 overall seed - their first selection as a top 8 seed since the implementation of the current seeding system in 1999 - marking their first postseason appearance since 2017.[5] On June 6, the Wildcats defeated UC Santa Barbara 5-2 to win the Tucson Regional and advance to their first Super Regional since 2016 when the team forged their way to the College World Series finals. The Wildcats would go on to defeat Ole Miss 2 games to 1, to advance to their 18th College World Series appearance all-time. They subsequently were eliminated in two games, losing to the defending champion from 2019, No. 4 seed Vanderbilt as well as Stanford.

Previous season

The Wildcats began the 2020 season 10–5, good for a tie for third-place in the Pac-12 prior to the NCAA's decision to cancel the season on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the season's cancellation, all Division I college baseball players were granted an extra year of eligibility.[6]

Personnel

Opening day

Opening Day Starters[9]
Name Position
Donta Williams Center fielder
Jacob Blas Shortstop
Kobe Kato Second baseman
Branden Boissiere First baseman
Ryan Holgate Designated hitter
Catcher
Tyler Casagrande Right fielder
Jacob BerryThird baseman
Mac BinghamLeft fielder
Starting pitcher

Schedule and results

2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball game log[10] [11] [12]
Regular season
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveOverallRecordPac-12Record
Feb 19Ball State
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 3-0Silseth (1-0)Weatherly (0-1)Vannelle (1)1-0
Feb 20Ball State
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 7-8Baker (1-0)Churchill (0-1)None1-1
Feb 21Ball State
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Ruetschle (1-0)Flanagan (0-1)Orselli (1)1-2
Feb 22Ball State
  1. 24
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-5Nichols (1-0)Johnson (0-1)None2-2
Feb 25Southeastern Louisiana
  1. 24
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7-4Silseth (2-0)Kinzeler (0-1)Price (1)3-2
Feb 26Southeastern Louisiana
  1. 24
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-11Murphy (1-0)Shaffer (1-1)Vannelle (2)4-2
Feb 27Southeastern Louisiana
  1. 24
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Long (1-0)Bartley (0-1)Flanagan (1)5-2
Feb 28Southeastern Louisiana
  1. 24
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Nichols (2-0)Upton (1-1)None6-2
Mar 4vs Oklahoma
  1. 24
Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 20-13Vannelle (1-0)Taggart (0-1)None7-2
Mar 5vs Oklahoma
  1. 24
Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 12-1Murphy (2-0)Olds (0-1)None8-2
Mar 6vs Dallas Baptist
  1. 24
Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 15-8Vannelle (2-0)Sagedahl (0-1)Flanagan (2)9-2
Mar 7vs Missouri
  1. 24
Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 8-4Nichols (3-0)Hise (0-2)None10-2
Mar 11Wichita State
  1. 13
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (3-0)Eddy (1-2)Price (2)11-2
Mar 12Wichita State
  1. 13
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-10Stuempfig (2-0)Vannelle (2-1)Haase (3)11-3
Mar 13Wichita State-Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled-----
Mar 13Air Force
  1. 13
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Fairburn (2-2)Irvin (0-1)Skenes (2)11-4
Mar 14Wichita State-Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled-----
Mar 14Air Force
  1. 13
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-5Price (1-0)Shuger (0-1)None12-4
Mar 19at #15 UCLA
  1. 21
Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 2-3Mullen (4-0)Price (1-1)None12-50-1
Mar 20at #15 UCLA
  1. 21
Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 7-3Cooper (1-0)Mora (1-1)Vannelle (3)13-51-1
Mar 21at #15 UCLA
  1. 21
Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 3-11Saum (1-2)Flanagan (0-2)None13-61-2
Mar 22at Loyola Marymount
  1. 23
George C. Page Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 18-2Long (2-0)Paquet (0-1)None14-6
Mar 26
  1. 15 Oregon
  1. 23
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-4Silseth (4-0)Ahlstrom (1-2)Vannelle (4)15-62-2
Mar 27
  1. 15 Oregon
  1. 23
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-2Irvin (1-1)Kafka (2-1)None16-63-2
Mar 28
  1. 15 Oregon
  1. 23
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 13-18Walker (3-1)Nichols (3-1)None16-73-3
Apr 1at #14 Arizona State
  1. 19
Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 10-5Murphy (3-0)Corrigan (0-1)None17-74-3
Apr 2at #14 Arizona State
  1. 19
Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 7-6Vannelle (3-1)Osman (1-2)Price (3)18-75-3
Apr 3at #14 Arizona State
  1. 19
Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 2-3Fall (4-1)Nichols (3-2)Levine (2)18-85-4
Apr 6
  1. 18 Arizona State
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Abshier (1-0)Bodlovich (0-1)None19-8
Apr 9California
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-1Silseth (5-0)Holman (0-1)None20-86-4
Apr 10California
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Irvin (2-1)White (3-1)Abshier (1)21-87-4
Apr 11California
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 1-9Pasqualotto (4-3)Nichols (3-3)Proctor (1)21-97-5
Apr 13at Grand Canyon
  1. 13
Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZL 4-5Glover (2-1)Vannelle (3-2)None21-10
Apr 16at Washington State
  1. 13
Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAL 2-21White (5-2)Silseth (5-1)None21-117-6
Apr 17at Washington State
  1. 13
Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 13-8Irvin (3-1)Mills (3-3)Flanagan (3)22-118-6
Apr 18at Washington State
  1. 13
Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 14-8Murphy (4-0)Hawkins (2-5)Vannelle (5)23-119-6
Apr 20New Mexico State
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-4Abshier (2-0)Mejia (0-2)None24-11
Apr 23USC
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (6-1)Esqueda (4-2)Flanagan (4)25-1110-6
Apr 24USC
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10-6Murphy (5-0)Gursky (1-1)None26-1111-6
Apr 25USC
  1. 16
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-4Smith (1-0)Cornwell (4-4)Vannelle (6)27-1112-6
Apr 30Utah
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-1Silseth (7-1)Kelly (0-8)None28-1113-6
May 1Utah
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Cooper (2-0)Hurdsman (1-1)Vannelle (7)29-1114-6
May 2Utah
  1. 10
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-3Smith (2-0)Watson (2-6)None30-1115-6
May 4Grand Canyon
  1. 8
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-2Nichols (4-3)Markl (1-1)None31-11
May 7at #14 Stanford
  1. 8
Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAL 4-5Pancer (5-2)Flanagan (0-3)None31-1215-7
May 8at #14 Stanford
  1. 8
Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAW 20-2Irvin (4-1)Mathews (4-1)None32-1216-7
May 9at #14 Stanford
  1. 8
Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAL 2-8Williams (1-1)Smith (2-1)None32-1316-8
May 10at Santa Clara-Schott Stadium • Santa Clara, CACancelled-----
May 14Washington
  1. 11
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 17-16Abshier (3-0)Lamb (3-2)None33-1317-8
May 15Washington
  1. 11
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-1Irvin (5-1)Guerrero (1-3)None34-1318-8
May 16Washington
  1. 11
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-2Luna (1-0)Raeth (2-2)None35-1319-8
May 18New Mexico State
  1. 8
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-3Murphy (6-0)Dickson Jr. (1-2)None36-13
May 21at Oregon State
  1. 8
Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORW 12-4Silseth (8-1)Washburn (3-2)None37-1320-8
May 22at Oregon State
  1. 8
Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 1-3Hjerpe (3-5)Irvin (5-2)Mulholland (13)37-1420-9
May 23at Oregon State
  1. 8
Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORW 6-5Vannelle (4-2)Watkins (2-4)None38-1421-9
May 27Dixie State
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-2Abshier (4-0)Gonzales (2-5)Luna (1)39-14
May 28Dixie State
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-11Hart (3-5)Flanagan (0-4)Hardman (1)39-15
May 29Dixie State
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-4Vannelle (5-2)Gerber (1-2)None40-15
Jun 4(4) Grand Canyon(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 12-6Nichols (5-3)Ohl (10-2)None41-15
Jun 5(3) UC Santa Barbara(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-0Irvin (6-2)McGreevy (9-2)None42-15
Jun 6(3) UC Santa Barbara(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-2Murphy (7-0)Callahan (3-4)Vannelle (8)43-15
Jun 11
  1. 14 Ole Miss
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 9-3Cooper (3-0)Diamond (3-5)None44-15
Jun 12
  1. 14 Ole Miss
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 3-12Nikhazy (12-2)Irvin (6-3)Miller (1)44-16
Jun 13
  1. 14 Ole Miss
  1. 6
Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16-3Nichols (6-3)Broadway (4-3)None45-16
Jun 19
  1. 1 Vanderbilt
  1. 5
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEL 6-7McElvain (5-1)Vannelle (5-3)None45-17
Jun 21
  1. 7 Stanford
  1. 5
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEL 5-14Williams (5-2)Irvin (6-4)Palisch (2)45-18

Tucson Super Regional

College World Series

See also: 2021 College World Series.

Rankings

See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I baseball rankings.

2021 MLB draft

PlayerPositionRoundOverallMLB Team
Ryan HolgateOF270St. Louis Cardinals
Brandon BoissiereOF382Washington Nationals
Donta' WilliamsOF4106Baltimore Orioles
Gil LunaLHP9275Chicago White Sox
Chase SilsethRHP11321Los Angeles Angels
Kobe Kato2B13388Houston Astros
Austin SmithRHP18547Atlanta Braves

Notes and References

  1. News: Lev. Michael. January 25, 2021. Arizona Wildcats rank 15th in Baseball America preseason poll. Arizona Daily Star. February 2, 2021.
  2. News: Lindberg. Kenny. February 2, 2021. Put 'em in Coach, Arizona Baseball is ready to play!. Zona Zealots (FanSided). February 2, 2021.
  3. News: 23 May 2021. UA baseball team rallies past Oregon State to clinch share of Pac-12 title. Arizona Daily Star.
  4. Web site: Pedersen. Brian J.. 2021-05-28. Arizona baseball falls at home to Dixie State but still clinches outright Pac-12 title. 2021-05-30. Arizona Desert Swarm. en.
  5. Web site: Pedersen. Brian J.. 2021-05-31. Arizona baseball earns No. 5 overall seed in NCAA tournament. 2021-06-01. Arizona Desert Swarm. en.
  6. News: Schlabach. Mark. March 30, 2020. NCAA approves extra year of eligibility for spring athletes. ESPN. February 2, 2021.
  7. Web site: 2021 Baseball Roster. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212005648/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/baseball/roster . 2019-12-12 . University of Arizona Athletics.
  8. Web site: 2021 Baseball Roster. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212005648/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/baseball/roster . 2019-12-12 . 31 January 2020. University of Arizona Athletics.
  9. Web site: Baseball vs Ball State on 2/19/2021 - Box Score. 2022-01-12. University of Arizona Athletics. en.
  10. Web site: Baseball Schedule. Arizona Wildcats. Feb 2, 2021.
  11. News: Lev. Michael. January 29, 2021. Arizona baseball schedule features home opener vs. Ball State, Pac-12 opener at No. 2 UCLA. Arizona Daily Star. February 2, 2021.
  12. News: Pedersen. Brian J.. January 29, 2021. Arizona baseball releases 2021 schedule. Arizona Desert Swarm (SB Nation). February 2, 2021.

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