Utah walks off Arizona baseball for 2nd straight game to take opening Big 12 series

Wildcats squander multiple opportunities, fall 8-7 after leading 7-5 in 9th inning

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:50pm

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The Arizona Wildcats baseball team lost the opening Big 12 series against the Utah Utes, falling 8-7 on Sunday after leading 7-5 in the 9th inning. This was the second straight walk-off loss for Arizona, who had opportunities to extend their early 4-0 lead but left 10 runners on base despite 9 hits and 10 walks.

Why it matters

The series loss to Utah to open Big 12 play is a disappointing start for an Arizona team that had high expectations coming into the season. The Wildcats' inability to capitalize on scoring chances and hold late leads will be an area of focus as they look to bounce back in conference play.

The details

Arizona jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first two innings, highlighted by a 477-foot 2-run homer by Tony Lira in the 2nd. However, the Wildcats' offense stalled after that, stranding multiple runners in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings. Utah chipped away, scoring 2 runs in the 6th on a homer by Jet Gilliam. The Utes then rallied for 3 runs in the 9th inning, capped by a walk-off 2-run single, to complete the comeback victory.

  • Arizona scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 7-5 lead.
  • Utah loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 9th and scored 3 runs to win 8-7.

The players

Tony Lira

Arizona Wildcats outfielder who hit a 477-foot 2-run homer to give the Wildcats an early 4-0 lead.

Beau Sylvester

Arizona Wildcats infielder who hit an RBI double in the 9th inning to tie the game at 7-7.

Jackson Forbes

Arizona Wildcats infielder who followed Sylvester's double with a 2-run single to give the Wildcats a 7-5 lead in the 9th.

Jet Gilliam

Utah Utes outfielder who hit a 2-run homer in the 6th inning to get the Utes on the board.

Matthew Martinez

Arizona Wildcats pitcher who took the loss after allowing the game-winning hit in the 9th inning.

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What they’re saying

“We must capitalize on opportunities when we have them. This was a tough loss, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger.”

— Beau Sylvester, Arizona Wildcats Infielder

What’s next

Arizona returns home for its next five games, starting with a non-conference matchup against New Mexico on Tuesday before hosting Texas Tech next weekend in Big 12 play.

The takeaway

Arizona's inability to extend their early lead and hold on to a late 9th inning advantage highlights areas the team needs to improve on as they look to bounce back in Big 12 conference play. Capitalizing on scoring chances and closing out games will be key focus points moving forward.