# 2023 Arizona Wildcats baseball team

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. 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. 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.

## Personnel
### Opening day

Opening Day Starters :
| Name | Position |
| Nik McClaughry | Shortstop |
| Chase Davis | Left fielder |
| Garen Caulfield | Second baseman |
| Kiko Romero | First baseman |
| Mac Bingham | Center fielder |
| Mason White | Designated hitter |
| Tony Bullard | Third baseman |
| Tommy Splaine | Catcher |
| Tyler Casagrande | Right fielder |
| TJ Nichols | Starting pitcher |

## Schedule and results

2023 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log :
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/Stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Overall Record | Pac-12 Record |
| Feb 17 | vs. #2 Tennessee | | Salt River Fields at Talking Stick • Scottsdale, AZ | W 3–1 | Nichols (1–0) | Dollander (0–1) | Long (1) | 1–0 | |
| Feb 18 | vs. Fresno State | | Sloan Park • Mesa, AZ | L 0–5 | Dixon (1–0) | Susac (0–1) | Garcia (1) | 1–1 | |
| Feb 19 | vs. Michigan State | | Salt River Fields at Talking Stick • Scottsdale, AZ | W 7–1 | Zastrow (1–0) | Matheny (0–1) | None | 2–1 | |
| Feb 20 | vs. UC San Diego | | Sloan Park • Mesa, AZ | W 9–8 | Long (1–0) | Soberon (0–1) | None | 3–1 | |
| Feb 24 | West Virginia | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 5–6 | Reed (1–0) | Long (1–1) | None | 3–2 | |
| Feb 25 | West Virginia | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 1–5 | Traxel (1–1) | Susac (0–2) | None | 3–3 | |
| Feb 26 | West Virginia | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 15–5 | Netz (1–0) | Siegel (1–1) | None | 4–3 | |
| Feb 28 | California Baptist | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 16–7 | May (1–0) | Downer (1–3) | None | 5–3 | |
| Mar 3 | North Dakota State | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 8–6 | Nichols (2–0) | Feeney (0–3) | Long (2) | 6–3 | |
| Mar 4 | North Dakota State | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 7–6 | Drees (1–0) | Jacobs (0–2) | None | 7–3 | |
| Mar 5 | North Dakota State | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–1 | Zastrow (2–0) | Roehrich (0–3) | None | 8–3 | |
| Mar 7 | at Grand Canyon | | Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZ | W 12–10 | Netz (2–0) | Tucker (1–1) | Long (3) | 9–3 | |
| Mar 10 | California | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 13–2 | Nichols (3–0) | Stamos (2–2) | None | 10–3 | 1–0 |
| Mar 11 | California | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 7–5 | Barraza (1–0) | Sullivan (1–1) | Long (4) | 11–3 | 2–0 |
| Mar 12 | California | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 10–5 | May (2–0) | Bougie (1–1) | None | 12–3 | 3–0 |
| Mar 15 | at Cal State Fullerton | - | Goodwin Field • Fullerton, CA | Cancelled | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar 17 | at #13 UCLA | | Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA | L 1–5 | Brooks (3–2) | Nichols (3–1) | None | 12–4 | 3–1 |
| Mar 18 | at #13 UCLA | | Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA | L 5–7 | Barnett (1–0) | Zastrow (2–1) | Jewett (4) | 12–5 | 3–2 |
| Mar 19 | at #13 UCLA | | Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA | L 4–6 | Aldrich (3–0) | Hintz (0–1) | None | 12–6 | 3–3 |
| Mar 21 | Utah Tech | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–2 | Orloff (1–0) | West (1–1) | None | 13–6 | |
| Mar 24 | at Arizona State | | Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZ | L 5–6 | Tieding (3–0) | Nichols (3–2) | Pivaroff (1) | 13–7 | 3–4 |
| Mar 25 | at Arizona State | | Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZ | L 4–7 | Lebamoff (2–0) | Hintz (0–2) | Stevenson (1) | 13–8 | 3–5 |
| Mar 26 | at Arizona State | | Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZ | L 6–10 | Manning (1–2) | May (2–1) | None | 13–9 | 3–6 |
| Mar 28 | Grand Canyon | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 10–9 | Long (2–1) | Omlid (0–1) | None | 14–9 | |
| Mar 31 | Oregon | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 3–15 | Stoffal (3–2) | Nichols (3–3) | None | 14–10 | 3–7 |
| Apr 1 | Oregon | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 11–13 | Dallas (4–0) | Long (2–2) | Mollerus (3) | 14–11 | 3–8 |
| Apr 2 | Oregon | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 5–8 | Anderson (2–0) | May (2–2) | Mollerus (4) | 14–12 | 3–9 |
| Apr 6 | Washington | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 8–15 | Shinn (1–0) | Long (2–3) | None | 14–13 | 3–10 |
| Apr 7 | Washington | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 12–4 | Zastrow (3–1) | Lord (3–3) | Nichols (1) | 15–13 | 4–10 |
| Apr 8 | Washington | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–2 | May (3–2) | Engman (2–2) | None | 16–13 | 5–10 |
| Apr 11 | New Mexico State | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 14–2 | Walty (1–0) | Hoeft (0–5) | None | 17–13 | |
| Apr 14 | at Washington State | | Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WA | L 3–6 | Liss (1–0) | Nichols (3–4) | Wilfford (1) | 17–14 | 5–11 |
| Apr 15 | at Washington State | | Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WA | L 8–15 | Baughn (5–0) | Zastrow (3–2) | Grillo (6) | 17–15 | 5–12 |
| Apr 16 | at Washington State | | Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WA | W 14–8 | Drees (2–0) | Liss (1–1) | None | 18–15 | 6–12 |
| Apr 19 | Arizona State | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 20–0 | Walty (2–0) | Manning (1–3) | None | 19–15 | |
| Apr 21 | Utah | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 14–9 | Orloff (2–0) | Van Sickle (2–5) | None | 20–15 | 7–12 |
| Apr 22 | Utah | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 19–2 | Zastrow (4–2) | Jones (2–2) | None | 21–15 | 8–12 |
| Apr 23 | Utah | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 9–5 | May (4–2) | Day (3–4) | None | 22–15 | 9–12 |
| Apr 25 | New Mexico | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–8 | Walty (3–0) | Jackson (2–1) | Barraza (1) | 23–15 | |
| Apr 28 | at Oregon State | | Goss Stadium • Corvallis, OR | L 1–2 | Jimenez (2–1) | Barraza (1–1) | None | 23–16 | 9–13 |
| Apr 29 | at Oregon State | | Goss Stadium • Corvallis, OR | L 4–10 | Kmatz (3–4) | Zastrow (4–3) | None | 23–17 | 9–14 |
| Apr 30 | at Oregon State | | Goss Stadium • Corvallis, OR | L 10–11 | Brown (4–1) | Barraza (1–2) | None | 23–18 | 9–15 |
| May 2 | at Grand Canyon | | Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZ | L 3–4 | Ohl (3–1) | Long (2–4) | None | 23–19 | |
| May 5 | Air Force | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 16–4 | Walty (4–0) | Sansing (5–4) | None | 24–19 | |
| May 6 | Air Force | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 0–5 | Gehring (4–3) | Zastrow (4–4) | Hawks (7) | 24–20 | |
| May 7 | Air Force | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–10 | Barraza (2–2) | Weber (2–2) | None | 25–20 | |
| May 10 | Nevada | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 11–9 | Barraza (3–2) | Ray (0–1) | None | 26–20 | |
| May 12 | at #4 Stanford | | Sunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CA | L 8–9 | Dowd (8–2) | Long (2–5) | None | 26–21 | 9–16 |
| May 13 | at #4 Stanford | | Sunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CA | L 2–9 | Dixon (5–0) | Zastrow (4–5) | None | 26–22 | 9–17 |
| May 14 | at #4 Stanford | | Sunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CA | W 21–20 | Barraza (4–2) | Bruno (2–1) | None | 27–22 | 10–17 |
| May 15 | UC Irvine | | Anteater Ballpark • Irvine, CA | W 4–3 | Susac (1–2) | Brooks (2–1) | Orloff (1) | 28–22 | |
| May 18 | USC | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | Postponed | - | - | - | - | - |
| May 19 | USC | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, Arizona | W 13–4 | Walty (5–0) | Sodersten (4–3) | None | 29–22 | 11–17 |
| May 19 | USC | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | W 6–3 | Zastrow (5–5) | Aoki (4–2) | Long (5) | 30–22 | 12–17 |
| May 20 | USC | | Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZ | L 6–14 | Wisch (2–1) | Nichols (3–5) | None | 30–23 | 12–18 |
| Pac-12 Conference Tournament ||||||||||
| May 23 | (5) Arizona State | (8) | Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZ | W 12–3 | May (5–2) | Hansell (2–1) | None | 31–23 | |
| May 24 | (2) Oregon State | (8) | Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZ | W 13–12 | Barraza (5–2) | Brown (4–2) | None | 32–23 | |
| May 26 | (1) #3 Stanford | (8) | Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZ | W 14–4 | Zastrow (6–5) | Mathews (7–4) | None | 33–23 | |
| May 27 | (6) Oregon | (8) | Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZ | L 4–5 | Spoljaric (6–0) | Hintz (0–3) | Dallas (3) | 33–24 | |
| Fayetteville Regional ||||||||||
| Jun 2 | vs. (2) #17 TCU | (3) | Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR | L 4–12 | Savage (5–3) | Walty (5–1) | None | 33–25 | |
| Jun 3 | vs. (4) Santa Clara | (3) | Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR | L 3–9 | Pilchard (4–1) | May (5–3) | Feikes (1) | 33–26 | |

### Fayetteville Regional

Fayetteville Regional Teams :
| (1) Arkansas Razorbacks | (4) Santa Clara Broncos | (2) TCU Horned Frogs | (3) Arizona Wildcats |

## 2023 MLB draft

| Player | Position | Round | Overall | MLB Team |
| Chase Davis | OF | 1 | 21 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| TJ Nichols | RHP | 6 | 183 | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Kiko Romero | INF | 7 | 222 | New York Yankees |
| Chris Barraza | RHP | 10 | 294 | Los Angeles Angels |
| Nik McClaughry | INF | 10 | 311 | San Diego Padres |