2023 Arizona Wildcats baseball team explained

Year:2023
Sport:baseball
Stadium:Hi Corbett Field
Team:Arizona Wildcats
Conference:Pac-12 Conference
Record:33–26
Conf Record:12–18
Hc Year:2nd
Head Coach:Chip Hale
Asst Coach1:Dave Lawn
Ac1 Year:8th
Asst Coach2:Trip Couch
Ac2 Year:2nd
Asst Coach3:Toby Demello
Ac3 Year:2nd
Short Conf:Pac-12
Tourney:Fayetteville Regional
Tourney Result:0–2

The 2023 Arizona Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Arizona during the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wildcats played their home games for the 12th season at Hi Corbett Field. The team was coached by Chip Hale in his 2nd season at Arizona. The Wildcats finished 8th in the Pac-12, but advanced to the final of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament losing to Oregon 4–5. The Wildcats were selected into the NCAA tournament for the 3rd straight year for the first time since 2010–12.

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2022 season with a record of 39–25 (16–14 Conf.), good for a 5th place conference finish. In the inaugural Pac-12 Conference Baseball Tournament in Scottsdale, AZ, the Wildcats defeated Oregon and Arizona State but lost twice to eventual champion Stanford to finish in 4th place. The team subsequently was selected to the postseason for a second consecutive season for the first time since 2016–2017. They were placed in the Coral Gables Regional where they went 2-2, eliminating both Canisius and host #6 Miami but losing twice to Ole Miss to end their season.

Preseason

During the offseason, the Wildcats participated in 4 fall exhibition games.[1] [2] On October 6 the team participated in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta held at Tucson's Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, playing the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League to a 6–6 tie.[3] Arizona next played Pima Community College on October 15 at Hi Corbett Field in a game in which the score was not released. The Wildcats concluded the preseason on October 22 with 11-6 and 5-4 wins over UNLV in a doubleheader at Hi Corbett Field.[4]

Personnel

Opening day

Opening Day Starters[7]
NamePosition
Nik McClaughryShortstop
Chase DavisLeft fielder
Garen CaulfieldSecond baseman
Kiko RomeroFirst baseman
Mac BinghamCenter fielder
Mason WhiteDesignated hitter
Tony BullardThird baseman
Tommy SplaineCatcher
Tyler CasagrandeRight fielder
TJ NicholsStarting pitcher

Schedule and results

2023 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log[8] [9] [10]
Regular Season
DateOpponentRankSite/StadiumScoreWinLossSaveOverallRecordPac-12Record
Feb 17vs. #2 TennesseeSalt River Fields at Talking StickScottsdale, AZW 3–1Nichols (1–0)Dollander (0–1)Long (1)1–0
Feb 18vs. Fresno StateSloan ParkMesa, AZL 0–5Dixon (1–0)Susac (0–1)Garcia (1)1–1
Feb 19vs. Michigan StateSalt River Fields at Talking Stick • Scottsdale, AZW 7–1Zastrow (1–0)Matheny (0–1)None2–1
Feb 20vs. UC San DiegoSloan Park • Mesa, AZW 9–8Long (1–0)Soberon (0–1)None3–1
Feb 24West VirginiaHi Corbett FieldTucson, AZL 5–6Reed (1–0)Long (1–1)None3–2
Feb 25West VirginiaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 1–5Traxel (1–1)Susac (0–2)None3–3
Feb 26West VirginiaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15–5Netz (1–0)Siegel (1–1)None4–3
Feb 28California BaptistHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16–7May (1–0)Downer (1–3)None5–3
Mar 3North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8–6Nichols (2–0)Feeney (0–3)Long (2)6–3
Mar 4North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7–6Drees (1–0)Jacobs (0–2)None7–3
Mar 5North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–1Zastrow (2–0)Roehrich (0–3)None8–3
Mar 7at Grand CanyonBrazell FieldPhoenix, AZW 12–10Netz (2–0)Tucker (1–1)Long (3)9–3
Mar 10CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13–2Nichols (3–0)Stamos (2–2)None10–31–0
Mar 11CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7–5Barraza (1–0)Sullivan (1–1)Long (4)11–32–0
Mar 12CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10–5May (2–0)Bougie (1–1)None12–33–0
Mar 15at Cal State Fullerton-Goodwin FieldFullerton, CACancelled
Mar 17at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 1–5Brooks (3–2)Nichols (3–1)None12–43–1
Mar 18at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 5–7Barnett (1–0)Zastrow (2–1)Jewett (4)12–53–2
Mar 19at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 4–6Aldrich (3–0)Hintz (0–1)None12–63–3
Mar 21Utah TechHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–2Orloff (1–0)West (1–1)None13–6
Mar 24at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 5–6Tieding (3–0)Nichols (3–2)Pivaroff (1)13–73–4
Mar 25at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 4–7Lebamoff (2–0)Hintz (0–2)Stevenson (1)13–83–5
Mar 26at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 6–10Manning (1–2)May (2–1)None13–93–6
Mar 28Grand CanyonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10–9Long (2–1)Omlid (0–1)None14–9
Mar 31OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 3–15Stoffal (3–2)Nichols (3–3)None14–103–7
Apr 1OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 11–13Dallas (4–0)Long (2–2)Mollerus (3)14–113–8
Apr 2OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 5–8Anderson (2–0)May (2–2)Mollerus (4)14–123–9
Apr 6WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 8–15Shinn (1–0)Long (2–3)None14–133–10
Apr 7WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 12–4Zastrow (3–1)Lord (3–3)Nichols (1)15–134–10
Apr 8WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–2May (3–2)Engman (2–2)None16–135–10
Apr 11New Mexico StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14–2Walty (1–0)Hoeft (0–5)None17–13
Apr 14at Washington StateBailey-Brayton FieldPullman, WAL 3–6Liss (1–0)Nichols (3–4)Wilfford (1)17–145–11
Apr 15at Washington StateBailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAL 8–15Baughn (5–0)Zastrow (3–2)Grillo (6)17–155–12
Apr 16at Washington StateBailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 14–8Drees (2–0)Liss (1–1)None18–156–12
Apr 19Arizona StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 20–0Walty (2–0)Manning (1–3)None19–15
Apr 21UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14–9Orloff (2–0)Van Sickle (2–5)None20–157–12
Apr 22UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 19–2Zastrow (4–2)Jones (2–2)None21–158–12
Apr 23UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 9–5May (4–2)Day (3–4)None22–159–12
Apr 25New MexicoHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–8Walty (3–0)Jackson (2–1)Barraza (1)23–15
Apr 28at Oregon StateGoss StadiumCorvallis, ORL 1–2Jimenez (2–1)Barraza (1–1)None23–169–13
Apr 29at Oregon StateGoss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 4–10Kmatz (3–4)Zastrow (4–3)None23–179–14
Apr 30at Oregon StateGoss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 10–11Brown (4–1)Barraza (1–2)None23–189–15
May 2at Grand CanyonBrazell Field • Phoenix, AZL 3–4Ohl (3–1)Long (2–4)None23–19
May 5Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16–4Walty (4–0)Sansing (5–4)None24–19
May 6Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 0–5Gehring (4–3)Zastrow (4–4)Hawks (7)24–20
May 7Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–10Barraza (2–2)Weber (2–2)None25–20
May 10NevadaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–9Barraza (3–2)Ray (0–1)None26–20
May 12at #4 StanfordSunken DiamondPalo Alto, CAL 8–9Dowd (8–2)Long (2–5)None26–219–16
May 13at #4 StanfordSunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CAL 2–9Dixon (5–0)Zastrow (4–5)None26–229–17
May 14at #4 StanfordSunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CAW 21–20Barraza (4–2)Bruno (2–1)None27–2210–17
May 15UC IrvineAnteater BallparkIrvine, CAW 4–3Susac (1–2)Brooks (2–1)Orloff (1)28–22
May 18USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZPostponed-----
May 19USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, ArizonaW 13–4Walty (5–0)Sodersten (4–3)None29–2211–17
May 19USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 6–3Zastrow (5–5)Aoki (4–2)Long (5)30–2212–17
May 20USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 6–14Wisch (2–1)Nichols (3–5)None30–2312–18
May 23(5) Arizona State(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 12–3May (5–2)Hansell (2–1)None31–23
May 24(2) Oregon State(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 13–12Barraza (5–2)Brown (4–2)None32–23
May 26(1) #3 Stanford(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 14–4Zastrow (6–5)Mathews (7–4)None33–23
May 27(6) Oregon(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZL 4–5Spoljaric (6–0)Hintz (0–3)Dallas (3)33–24
Jun 2vs. (2) #17 TCU(3)Baum–Walker StadiumFayetteville, ARL 4–12Savage (5–3)Walty (5–1)None33–25
Jun 3vs. (4) Santa Clara(3)Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, ARL 3–9Pilchard (4–1)May (5–3)Feikes (1)33–26

Fayetteville Regional

2023 MLB draft

PlayerPositionRoundOverallMLB Team
Chase DavisOF121St. Louis Cardinals
TJ NicholsRHP6183Tampa Bay Rays
Kiko RomeroINF7222New York Yankees
Chris BarrazaRHP10294Los Angeles Angels
Nik McClaughryINF10311San Diego Padres

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wildcats Slated for Three Fall Exhibition Games . 2023-01-19 . University of Arizona Athletics . 20 September 2022 . en.
  2. Web site: Pedersen . Brian J. . 2022-08-01 . Arizona to participate in Mexican Baseball Fiesta . 2023-01-19 . Arizona Desert Swarm . en.
  3. Web site: Pedersen . Brian J. . 2022-10-07 . Arizona baseball opens fall exhibition slate with tie vs. Mexican pro team . 2023-01-19 . Arizona Desert Swarm . en.
  4. Web site: Pedersen . Brian J. . 2022-10-22 . Newcomers highlight Arizona baseball's doubleheader sweep of UNLV to wrap up fall season . 2023-01-19 . Arizona Desert Swarm . en.
  5. Web site: 2022 Baseball Roster . 18 January 2023 . University of Arizona Athletics.
  6. Web site: 2023 Baseball Coaches . 18 January 2023 . University of Arizona Athletics.
  7. Web site: Baseball vs Tennessee on 2/17/2023 - Box Score . 2023-02-18 . University of Arizona Athletics . en.
  8. Web site: 2023 Baseball Schedule . 18 January 2023 . University of Arizona Athletics.
  9. Web site: Lev . Michael . Arizona to open 2023 baseball season against No. 5 Tennessee in Scottsdale . 2023-01-19 . Arizona Daily Star . 20 December 2022 . en.
  10. Web site: Pedersen . Brian J. . 2022-11-15 . Arizona baseball releases 2023 schedule . 2023-01-19 . Arizona Desert Swarm . en.