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 - their highest preseason ranking in any poll since 2013 - and their incoming recruiting class was ranked 4th in the nation by D1Baseball. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Personnel
Roster 2021 Arizona Wildcats roster Pitchers • 4 - Gil Luna - Junior
• 12 - Garrett Irvin - Junior
• 14 - Jonathan Guardado - Junior
• 18 - Austin Smith - Junior
• 20 - Bryce Collins - Freshman
• 22 - Chandler Murphy - Freshman
• 25 - TJ Nichols - Freshman
• 26 - Vince Vannelle - Senior
• 27 - Dawson Netz - Freshman
• 29 - Chase Silseth - Sophomore
• 30 - Preston Price - Senior
• 34 - Ian Churchill - Junior
• 35 - Blake Peyton - Freshman
• 36 - George Arias Jr. - Sophomore
• 37 - German Fajardo - Freshman
• 38 - Riley Cooper - Freshman
• 38 - Ryan Kysar - Freshman
• 40 - Quinn Flanagan - Sophomore
• 43 - Javyn Pimental - Freshman
• 45 - Mason Millett - Sophomore
• 47 - Hunter Cope - Freshman
• 51 - Trevor Long - Freshman
• 99 - Randy Abshier - SophomoreCatchers • 6 - Daniel Susac - Freshman
• 31 - Kaden Hopson - Freshman
• 50 - Cameron Laliberte - Freshman
Infielders
• 1 - Kobe Kato - Sophomore
• 3 - Tony Bullard - Sophomore
• 5 - Kyson Donahue - Freshman
• 10 - Jacob Blas - Sophomore
• 15 - Jacob Berry - Freshman
• 19 - Nik McClaughry - Sophomore
• 33 - TJ Curd - Freshman
• 46 - Jack Grant - FreshmanOutfielders • 7 - Mac Bingham - Freshman
• 8 - Chase Davis - Freshman
• 13 - Tyler Casagrande - Sophomore
• 16 - Kyle Casper - Freshman
• 17 - Branden Boissiere - Sophomore
• 23 - Donta Williams - Junior
• 28 - Blake Paugh - Junior
• 42 - Ryan Holgate - Sophomore
• 44 - Tanner O'Tremba - Freshman
• 52 - Tag Bross - Freshman
Utility
• 24 - Jacob Shaver - Freshman
Coaches 2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball coaching staff Jay Johnson - Head coach Nate Yeskie - Assistant coach Dave Lawn - Assistant coach Marc Wanaka - Volunteer assistant coach
Opening day +Opening Day StartersName PositionDonta Williams Center fielderJacob Blas ShortstopKobe Kato Second basemanBranden Boissiere First basemanRyan Holgate Designated hitterDaniel Susac CatcherTyler Casagrande Right fielderJacob Berry Third basemanMac Bingham Left fielderChase Silseth Starting pitcher
Schedule and results +2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball game logRegular seasonDateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveOverall RecordPac-12 RecordFeb 19Ball State#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 3-0Silseth (1-0)Weatherly (0-1)Vannelle (1)1-0Feb 20Ball State#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 7-8Baker (1-0)Churchill (0-1)None1-1Feb 21Ball State#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Ruetschle (1-0)Flanagan (0-1)Orselli (1)1-2Feb 22Ball State#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-5Nichols (1-0)Johnson (0-1)None2-2Feb 25Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7-4Silseth (2-0)Kinzeler (0-1)Price (1)3-2Feb 26Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-11Murphy (1-0)Shaffer (1-1)Vannelle (2)4-2Feb 27Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Long (1-0)Bartley (0-1)Flanagan (1)5-2Feb 28Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Nichols (2-0)Upton (1-1)None6-2Mar 4vs Oklahoma#24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 20-13Vannelle (1-0)Taggart (0-1)None7-2Mar 5vs Oklahoma#24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 12-1Murphy (2-0)Olds (0-1)None8-2Mar 6vs Dallas Baptist#24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 15-8Vannelle (2-0)Sagedahl (0-1)Flanagan (2)9-2Mar 7vs Missouri#24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 8-4Nichols (3-0)Hise (0-2)None10-2Mar 11Wichita State#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (3-0)Eddy (1-2)Price (2)11-2Mar 12Wichita State#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-10Stuempfig (2-0)Vannelle (2-1)Haase (3)11-3Mar 13Wichita State -Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled - - - - -Mar 13Air Force#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Fairburn (2-2)Irvin (0-1)Skenes (2)11-4Mar 14Wichita State -Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled - - - - -Mar 14Air Force#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-5Price (1-0)Shuger (0-1)None12-4Mar 19at #15 UCLA#21Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 2-3Mullen (4-0)Price (1-1)None12-50-1Mar 20at #15 UCLA#21Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 7-3Cooper (1-0)Mora (1-1)Vannelle (3)13-51-1Mar 21at #15 UCLA#21Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 3-11Saum (1-2)Flanagan (0-2)None13-61-2Mar 22at Loyola Marymount#23George C. Page Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 18-2Long (2-0)Paquet (0-1)None14-6Mar 26#15 Oregon#23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-4Silseth (4-0)Ahlstrom (1-2)Vannelle (4)15-62-2Mar 27#15 Oregon#23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-2Irvin (1-1)Kafka (2-1)None16-63-2Mar 28#15 Oregon#23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 13-18Walker (3-1)Nichols (3-1)None16-73-3Apr 1at #14 Arizona State#19Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 10-5Murphy (3-0)Corrigan (0-1)None17-74-3Apr 2at #14 Arizona State#19Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 7-6Vannelle (3-1)Osman (1-2)Price (3)18-75-3Apr 3at #14 Arizona State#19Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZ L 2-3Fall (4-1)Nichols (3-2)Levine (2)18-85-4Apr 6#18 Arizona State#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Abshier (1-0)Bodlovich (0-1)None19-8Apr 9California#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-1Silseth (5-0)Holman (0-1)None20-86-4Apr 10California#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Irvin (2-1)White (3-1)Abshier (1)21-87-4Apr 11California#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 1-9Pasqualotto (4-3)Nichols (3-3)Proctor (1)21-97-5Apr 13at Grand Canyon#13Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZL 4-5Glover (2-1)Vannelle (3-2)None21-10Apr 16at Washington State#13Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAL 2-21White (5-2)Silseth (5-1)None21-117-6Apr 17at Washington State#13Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 13-8Irvin (3-1)Mills (3-3)Flanagan (3)22-118-6Apr 18at Washington State#13Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 14-8Murphy (4-0)Hawkins (2-5)Vannelle (5)23-119-6Apr 20New Mexico State#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-4Abshier (2-0)Mejia (0-2)None24-11Apr 23USC#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (6-1)Esqueda (4-2)Flanagan (4)25-1110-6Apr 24USC#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10-6Murphy (5-0)Gursky (1-1)None26-1111-6Apr 25USC#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-4Smith (1-0)Cornwell (4-4)Vannelle (6)27-1112-6Apr 30Utah#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-1Silseth (7-1)Kelly (0-8)None28-1113-6May 1Utah#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Cooper (2-0)Hurdsman (1-1)Vannelle (7)29-1114-6May 2Utah#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-3Smith (2-0)Watson (2-6)None30-1115-6May 4Grand Canyon#8Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-2Nichols (4-3)Markl (1-1)None31-11May 7at #14 Stanford#8Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAL 4-5Pancer (5-2)Flanagan (0-3)None31-1215-7May 8at #14 Stanford#8Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAW 20-2Irvin (4-1)Mathews (4-1)None32-1216-7May 9at #14 Stanford#8Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAL 2-8Williams (1-1)Smith (2-1)None32-1316-8May 10at Santa Clara -Schott Stadium • Santa Clara, CACancelled - - - - -May 14Washington#11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 17-16Abshier (3-0)Lamb (3-2)None33-1317-8May 15Washington#11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-1Irvin (5-1)Guerrero (1-3)None34-1318-8May 16Washington#11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-2Luna (1-0)Raeth (2-2)None35-1319-8May 18New Mexico State#8Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-3Murphy (6-0)Dickson Jr. (1-2)None36-13May 21at Oregon State#8Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORW 12-4Silseth (8-1)Washburn (3-2)None37-1320-8May 22at Oregon State#8Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 1-3Hjerpe (3-5)Irvin (5-2)Mulholland (13)37-1420-9May 23at Oregon State#8Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORW 6-5Vannelle (4-2)Watkins (2-4)None38-1421-9May 27Dixie State#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-2Abshier (4-0)Gonzales (2-5)Luna (1)39-14May 28Dixie State#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-11Hart (3-5)Flanagan (0-4)Hardman (1)39-15May 29Dixie State#6Hi 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)None41-15Jun 5(3) UC Santa Barbara(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-0Irvin (6-2)McGreevy (9-2)None42-15Jun 6(3) UC Santa Barbara(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-2Murphy (7-0)Callahan (3-4)Vannelle (8)43-15 Jun 11#14 Ole Miss#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 9-3Cooper (3-0)Diamond (3-5)None44-15Jun 12#14 Ole Miss#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 3-12Nikhazy (12-2)Irvin (6-3)Miller (1)44-16Jun 13#14 Ole Miss#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16-3Nichols (6-3)Broadway (4-3)None45-16 Jun 19#1 Vanderbilt#5TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEL 6-7McElvain (5-1)Vannelle (5-3)None45-17Jun 21#7 Stanford#5TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEL 5-14Williams (5-2)Irvin (6-4)Palisch (2)45-18
Tucson Regional
Tucson Regional Teams(1) Arizona Wildcats(4) Grand Canyon Antelopes(2) Oklahoma State Cowboys(3) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Tucson Super Regional
Tucson Super Regional Teams(5) Arizona Wildcatsvs.(12) Ole Miss Rebels
College World Series
2021 College World Series Teams NC State Wolfpack (9) Stanford Cardinal (5) Arizona Wildcats (4) Vanderbilt Commodores Virginia Cavaliers (3) Tennessee Volunteers(7) Mississippi State Bulldogs (2) Texas Longhorns
Rankings
2021 MLB draft Player Position Round Overall MLB team Ryan Holgate OF 2 70 St. Louis Cardinals Brandon Boissiere OF 3 82 Washington Nationals Donta' Williams OF 4 106 Baltimore Orioles Gil Luna LHP 9 275 Chicago White Sox Chase Silseth RHP 11 321 Los Angeles Angels Kobe Kato 2B 13 388 Houston Astros Austin Smith RHP 18 547 Atlanta Braves
Notes
References