Arizona's baseball squad clinched a 7‑4 win over Oklahoma State in the ninth inning, a result that nudged the Wildcats into a dead‑heat for the final berth of the Big 12 Tournament.
The victory was sparked by a clutch sacrifice fly from Caleb Danzeisen that put Arizona ahead, while Mathis Meurant answered with a solo homer in the eighth to level the contest before delivering a two‑out, two‑run double in the ninth to add insurance.
Despite out‑hitting Oklahoma State 12‑to‑? and generating 21 baserunners, Arizona stranded 11 runners through the first six innings, a reminder of the team's struggle to convert opportunities into runs.
Pitching performance and tournament outlook
Starter Luc Fladda flirted with a no‑hitter, retiring the first six batters before a solo homer in the sixth broke the perfect sheet; he later surrendered a three‑run shot in the seventh, but the bullpen steadied the ship.
Corey Kling shut the door with two scoreless frames, preserving the lead and sealing the win, while the team's overall composure under pressure drew praise from coaches.
The win ties Arizona for 12th place in the conference and leaves them a game behind 11th‑ranked Kansas State, meaning the Wildcats must win one more game than Texas Tech or two more than Kansas State to lock down a tournament spot.
Looking ahead, Arizona will hand the ball to Owen Kramkowski for a 4 p.m. PT start on Friday, a matchup that could determine whether the Wildcats advance to the Big 12 Tournament.