Arizona Wildcats Defeat TCU 4-3 in Tight Matchup

Wildcats' pitching and timely hitting key to victory on the road

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color in Arizona's red and blue uniforms against the green grass.Arizona's gritty road win over TCU highlights the Wildcats' resilience and ability to grind out close victories.Tucson Today

The Arizona Wildcats baseball team defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 4-3 in a close game on Friday night. Walden Grove alum Owen Kramkowski had a strong outing on the mound, striking out 9 batters over 6 2/3 innings. The Wildcats' offense was led by Tony Lira, who tied a career high with 4 hits, and Mathis Meurant, who drove in 2 runs with 2 hits. TJ Adams scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Maddox Mihalakis in the top of the 9th inning.

Why it matters

This victory is an important one for the Wildcats, who have struggled to a 12-21 record so far this season. The win could help build momentum as they look to turn their season around. The game also featured strong pitching performances and timely hitting, which are keys to success in college baseball.

The details

Kramkowski allowed only 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 9 and not issuing any walks. Maclain Roberts and Garrett Hicks were dominant in relief, with Roberts earning the win and Hicks recording the save. Offensively, Lira had 4 hits, Meurant drove in 2 runs, and Mihalakis hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the 9th. The Wildcats finished with 11 hits and 4 walks.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 10, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Due to inclement weather, Arizona and TCU will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Owen Kramkowski

A pitcher for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and a graduate of Walden Grove High School.

Tony Lira

An outfielder for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team who tied a career high with 4 hits in the game.

Mathis Meurant

An infielder for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team who drove in 2 runs with 2 hits.

TJ Adams

A player for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team who scored the game-winning run.

Maddox Mihalakis

A player for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team who hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the 9th inning.

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What’s next

Due to inclement weather in the area, Arizona and TCU will now play a doubleheader on Saturday. Game 1 is set to begin at noon, Tucson time, with Game 2 scheduled to start approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Arizona will attempt to match its longest winning streak of the season — three games — in the first game of the doubleheader.

The takeaway

The Wildcats' victory showcased their resilience and ability to win close games, even on the road against a tough opponent like TCU. The strong pitching performance, timely hitting, and game-winning play in the 9th inning demonstrate the team's potential to turn their season around and make a push in conference play.