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
Roster 2023 Arizona Wildcats roster Pitchers • 16 - Casey Hintz - Freshman
• 22 - Jackson Kent - Freshman
• 25 - TJ Nichols - Junior
• 27 - Dawson Netz - Junior
• 28 - Josh Randall - Sophomore
• 29 - Eric Orloff - Sophomore
• 34 - Anthony Susac - Sophomore
• 35 - Tyler Davis - Junior
• 36 - George Arias Jr. - Senior
• 37 - Tony Pluta - Freshman
• 38 - Cameron Walty - Junior
• 40 - Kenan Elarton - Freshman
• 43 - Aiden May - Sophomore
• 45 - Derek Drees - Senior
• 46 - Chris Barraza - Senior
• 48 - Bradon Zastrow - Senior
• 51 - Trevor Long - Junior
• 52 - Hayden Lewis - FreshmanCatchers • 8 - Colton Moore - Senior
• 14 - Kade Huff - Freshman
• 17 - Luke Moeller - Freshman
• 50 - Cameron Laliberte - Junior
Infielders
• 1 - Garen Caulfield - Sophomore
• 2 - Jack Grant - Sophomore
• 3 - Tony Bullard - Senior
• 10 - Xavier Esquer - Freshman
• 11 - Nik McClaughry - Senior
• 33 - Maddox Mihalakis - Freshman
• 44 - Trevor Schmidt - FreshmanOutfielders • 4 - Brendan Summerhill - Freshman
• 5 - Chase Davis - Junior
• 7 - Mac Bingham - Junior
• 13 - Tyler Casagrande - Senior
• 23 - TJ Adams - Freshman
• 24 - Mason White - Freshman
• 26 - Emilio Corona - Junior
Utility
• 12 - Kiko Romero - Junior
• 20 - Tommy Splaine - Sophomore
Coaches 2023 Arizona Wildcats baseball coaching staff Chip Hale - Head coach Dave Lawn - Assistant coach Trip Couch - Assistant coach Toby Demello - Volunteer assistant coach
Opening day +Opening Day StartersNamePosition 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 logRegular seasonDateOpponentRankSite/StadiumScoreWinLossSaveOverall RecordPac-12 RecordFeb 17vs. #2 TennesseeSalt River Fields at Talking Stick • Scottsdale, AZW 3–1Nichols (1–0)Dollander (0–1)Long (1)1–0Feb 18vs. Fresno StateSloan Park • Mesa, AZL 0–5Dixon (1–0)Susac (0–1)Garcia (1)1–1Feb 19vs. Michigan StateSalt River Fields at Talking Stick • Scottsdale, AZW 7–1Zastrow (1–0)Matheny (0–1)None2–1Feb 20vs. UC San DiegoSloan Park • Mesa, AZW 9–8Long (1–0)Soberon (0–1)None3–1Feb 24West VirginiaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 5–6Reed (1–0)Long (1–1)None3–2Feb 25West VirginiaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 1–5Traxel (1–1)Susac (0–2)None3–3Feb 26West VirginiaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15–5Netz (1–0)Siegel (1–1)None4–3Feb 28California BaptistHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16–7May (1–0)Downer (1–3)None5–3Mar 3North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8–6Nichols (2–0)Feeney (0–3)Long (2)6–3Mar 4North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7–6Drees (1–0)Jacobs (0–2)None7–3Mar 5North Dakota StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–1Zastrow (2–0)Roehrich (0–3)None8–3Mar 7at Grand CanyonBrazell Field • Phoenix, AZW 12–10Netz (2–0)Tucker (1–1)Long (3)9–3Mar 10CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13–2Nichols (3–0)Stamos (2–2)None10–31–0Mar 11CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7–5Barraza (1–0)Sullivan (1–1)Long (4)11–32–0Mar 12CaliforniaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10–5May (2–0)Bougie (1–1)None12–33–0Mar 15at Cal State Fullerton -Goodwin Field • Fullerton, CACancelled – – – – –Mar 17at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 1–5Brooks (3–2)Nichols (3–1)None12–43–1Mar 18at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 5–7Barnett (1–0)Zastrow (2–1)Jewett (4)12–53–2Mar 19at #13 UCLAJackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 4–6Aldrich (3–0)Hintz (0–1)None12–63–3Mar 21Utah TechHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–2Orloff (1–0)West (1–1)None13–6Mar 24at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 5–6Tieding (3–0)Nichols (3–2)Pivaroff (1)13–73–4Mar 25at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 4–7Lebamoff (2–0)Hintz (0–2)Stevenson (1)13–83–5Mar 26at Arizona StatePhoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 6–10Manning (1–2)May (2–1)None13–93–6Mar 28Grand CanyonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10–9Long (2–1)Omlid (0–1)None14–9Mar 31OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 3–15Stoffal (3–2)Nichols (3–3)None14–103–7Apr 1OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 11–13Dallas (4–0)Long (2–2)Mollerus (3)14–113–8Apr 2OregonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 5–8Anderson (2–0)May (2–2)Mollerus (4)14–123–9Apr 6WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 8–15Shinn (1–0)Long (2–3)None14–133–10Apr 7WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 12–4Zastrow (3–1)Lord (3–3)Nichols (1)15–134–10Apr 8WashingtonHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–2May (3–2)Engman (2–2)None16–135–10Apr 11New Mexico StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14–2Walty (1–0)Hoeft (0–5)None17–13Apr 14at Washington StateBailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAL 3–6Liss (1–0)Nichols (3–4)Wilfford (1)17–145–11Apr 15at Washington StateBailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAL 8–15Baughn (5–0)Zastrow (3–2)Grillo (6)17–155–12Apr 16at Washington StateBailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 14–8Drees (2–0)Liss (1–1)None18–156–12Apr 19Arizona StateHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 20–0Walty (2–0)Manning (1–3)None19–15Apr 21UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14–9Orloff (2–0)Van Sickle (2–5)None20–157–12Apr 22UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 19–2Zastrow (4–2)Jones (2–2)None21–158–12Apr 23UtahHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 9–5May (4–2)Day (3–4)None22–159–12Apr 25New MexicoHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–8Walty (3–0)Jackson (2–1)Barraza (1)23–15Apr 28at Oregon StateGoss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 1–2Jimenez (2–1)Barraza (1–1)None23–169–13Apr 29at Oregon StateGoss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 4–10Kmatz (3–4)Zastrow (4–3)None23–179–14Apr 30at Oregon StateGoss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 10–11Brown (4–1)Barraza (1–2)None23–189–15May 2at Grand CanyonBrazell Field • Phoenix, AZL 3–4Ohl (3–1)Long (2–4)None23–19May 5Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16–4Walty (4–0)Sansing (5–4)None24–19May 6Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 0–5Gehring (4–3)Zastrow (4–4)Hawks (7)24–20May 7Air ForceHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–10Barraza (2–2)Weber (2–2)None25–20May 10NevadaHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11–9Barraza (3–2)Ray (0–1)None26–20May 12at #4 StanfordSunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CAL 8–9Dowd (8–2)Long (2–5)None26–219–16May 13at #4 StanfordSunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CAL 2–9Dixon (5–0)Zastrow (4–5)None26–229–17May 14at #4 StanfordSunken Diamond • Palo Alto, CAW 21–20Barraza (4–2)Bruno (2–1)None27–2210–17May 15UC IrvineAnteater Ballpark • Irvine, CAW 4–3Susac (1–2)Brooks (2–1)Orloff (1)28–22May 18USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZPostponed - - - - -May 19USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, ArizonaW 13–4Walty (5–0)Sodersten (4–3)None29–2211–17May 19USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 6–3Zastrow (5–5)Aoki (4–2)Long (5)30–2212–17May 20USCHi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 6–14Wisch (2–1)Nichols (3–5)None30–2312–18May 23(5) Arizona State(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 12–3May (5–2)Hansell (2–1)None31–23May 24(2) Oregon State(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 13–12Barraza (5–2)Brown (4–2)None32–23May 26(1) #3 Stanford(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZW 14–4Zastrow (6–5)Mathews (7–4)None33–23May 27(6) Oregon(8)Scottsdale Stadium • Scottsdale, AZL 4–5Spoljaric (6–0)Hintz (0–3)Dallas (3)33–24Jun 2vs. (2) #17 TCU(3)Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, ARL 4–12Savage (5–3)Walty (5–1)None33–25Jun 3vs. (4) Santa Clara(3)Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, ARL 3–9Pilchard (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
References