Arizona baseball hosts Texas Tech for first Big 12 home series
Since moving to Hi Corbett Field in 2012, Arizona has won more than 70 percent of its games and used that homefield advantage to lay the groundwork for four trips to the College World Series. Yet after Tuesday’s loss to New Mexico, the Wildcats are 4-6 at home this season including 0-3 in midweek matchups. Being unable to defend its home field is just one of many things that have gone wrong this season for Arizona (7-13, 1-2 Big 12).
The injuries continue to mount, leading to more and more freshmen getting meaningful playing time and getting put into high-leverage situations, and with that youth has come a lot of mistakes. It’s also left coach Chip Hale searching for answers for how to turn things around as his team hosts Texas Tech (13-7, 2-1) in its first Big 12 home series of 2026. And it may mean taking an approach from his pro days that he hasn’t had to use since coming to Arizona.
“I’ve been through some really bad seasons in my career as a coach and a manager and head coach, so I just keep looking for ways to motivate them,” he said. “I’m not a big fear coach, but I think at some point guys have to understand if you’re not producing and you’re not playing the game the way we expect here at Arizona, that someone else is going to get an opportunity. ” Unfortunately, the options to make such changes keep dwindling.
A fourth pitcher is likely out for the season, as Texas Tech transfer JT Drake is receiving a PRP (platelet-rich protein) injection in his arm. And freshman shortstop Cash Brennan is dealing with a high ankle sprain, joining three injured outfielders. The position-player injuries have opened the door for younger players to see action, and many have capitalized on that.
True freshman Caleb Danzeisen reached base three times on Tuesday, and on Friday at utah hit a 3-run home run with two out in the top of the 9 th to tie a game that Arizona won in 11 innings. “I’ve never felt that way before,” Danzeisen said of his homer, the first of his career. “I love baseball for that reason.