Arizona baseball beats UC Irvine in Las Vegas behind gem from Luc Fladda

Wildcats win 2 of 3 in Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Arizona's baseball team defeated UC Irvine 7-1 on Sunday in the Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic, led by a dominant pitching performance from left-hander Luc Fladda. Fladda struck out a career-high 9 batters over 7 scoreless innings, while the Wildcats' offense collected 10 hits and matched their season high for runs scored.

Why it matters

The win gives Arizona some much-needed momentum heading into the final week before the start of Big 12 conference play. The Wildcats have been searching for consistency on offense, so the breakout performance at the plate is an encouraging sign.

The details

Fladda, a transfer from Tulane, allowed just 4 singles and 1 hit batter while stranding 2 runners in the 1st and 5th innings. He threw 96 pitches, 67 for strikes. Redshirt freshman Nate Novitske led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBIs for his third straight 3-hit game. True freshman Caleb Danzeisen also had 2 hits and scored 3 runs batting leadoff.

  • Arizona played in the Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic on March 2, 2026.
  • The Wildcats defeated UC Irvine 7-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The players

Luc Fladda

A left-handed transfer from Tulane who tossed 7 scoreless innings with a career-high 9 strikeouts to lead Arizona to victory.

Nate Novitske

A redshirt freshman who went 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBIs, continuing his hot streak at the plate.

Caleb Danzeisen

A true freshman who had 2 hits and scored 3 runs batting leadoff for the Wildcats.

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What’s next

Arizona plays its next four games at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, hosting Grand Canyon on Tuesday before a 3-game weekend series with Fresno State.

The takeaway

With a dominant pitching performance and a breakout offensive showing, Arizona's baseball team is gaining momentum at the right time as they approach the start of Big 12 conference play.