- Arizona sets program record with 8 home runs in single game
- Mason White leads charge with 3 HRs and 4 RBIs
- Wildcats pitching staff combines for 13 strikeouts
- Winner faces Arizona Sunday needing two victories
In an explosive offensive display at PK Park, the No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats (41-18) rewrote their record books Saturday night. The team's 14-4 victory over Utah Valley featured an unprecedented power surge that left college baseball analysts scrambling through record archives.
Third baseman Mason White set the tone early with a two-run blast in the first inning off Utah Valley starter Colton Kennedy. By the seventh-inning stretch, six different Wildcats had left the yard - including White's third moon shot that cleared the right-field bullpen.
When you see eight balls disappear like that, it's not just power - it's disciplined approach meeting opportunity,said ESPN analyst Kyle Peterson during the broadcast. The Wildcats' previous single-game HR record of seven stood since 1998.
While the offense dominated headlines, Arizona's bullpen delivered crucial containment. Reliever Casey Hintz silenced Utah Valley's bats through innings 4-6 with a devastating slider-heavy approach. Michael Hilker Jr.'s seven-strikeout performance marked his first save since transferring from junior college.
Regional Trend Analysis: The Pac-12 program's power surge aligns with a 22% increase in team home runs across NCAA Division I since 2019. Bat sensor technology shows Arizona hitters averaged 103.7 mph exit velocity on their HRs - 6.3 mph above the D1 average.
Tournament Implications: Arizona can secure its 18th super regional appearance Sunday afternoon. Utah Valley or Cal Poly would need consecutive wins against the Wildcats, a feat only accomplished twice in Eugene Regional history (2012 Oregon State, 2021 Louisiana).
Economic Impact: Host schools like Oregon (eliminated Saturday) typically generate $1.2-$1.8M per regional through ticket sales and local spending. Arizona's offensive showcase could influence future NCAA tournament site selections favoring hitter-friendly ballparks.