2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball team

Last updated

2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball
Arizona Wildcats logo.svg
Conference Pac-12 Conference
CB No. 6
Record45–18 (21–9 Pac-12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Nate Yeskie (2nd season)
  • Dave Lawn (6th season)
  • Marc Wanaka (6th season)
Home stadium Hi Corbett Field
Seasons
  2020
2022  
2021 Pac-12 Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Arizona  y219 .7004518 .714
No. 10 Oregon  y2010 .6673916 .709
No. 7 Stanford  y1710 .6303917 .696
No. 21 UCLA  y1812 .6003720 .649
Arizona State  y1614 .5333322 .600
Oregon State  y1614 .5333724 .607
California  1515 .5002926 .527
Washington State  1317 .4332623 .531
USC  1317 .4332526 .490
Utah  723 .2331733 .340
Washington  621 .2222030 .400
Conference champion
y Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 23, 2021 [1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Arizona during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wildcats played their home games for the 10th season at Hi Corbett Field. The team was coached by Jay Johnson in his 6th season and final season at Arizona. Following the season, Coach Johnson was hired as the head baseball coach at Louisiana State University. The Wildcats ranked 10th in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll [2] - their highest preseason ranking in any poll since 2013 - and their incoming recruiting class was ranked 4th in the nation by D1Baseball. [3] On May 23, the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the Pac-12 Championship for the first time since the 2012 season that saw the team win the College World Series. [4] Following a 3-11 loss by the Oregon Ducks to the California Golden Bears on May 28, the team clinched their first outright Pac-12 title since 1989. [5] On May 30, Hi Corbett Field was selected as one of the NCAA's 16 postseason Regional sites for the first time since 2012. The following day the Wildcats were selected as the tournaments No. 5 overall seed - their first selection as a top 8 seed since the implementation of the current seeding system in 1999 - marking their first postseason appearance since 2017. [6] On June 6, the Wildcats defeated UC Santa Barbara 5-2 to win the Tucson Regional and advance to their first Super Regional since 2016 when the team forged their way to the College World Series finals. The Wildcats would go on to defeat Ole Miss 2 games to 1, to advance to their 18th College World Series appearance all-time. They subsequently were eliminated in two games, losing to the defending champion from 2019, No. 4 seed Vanderbilt as well as Stanford.

Contents

Previous season

The Wildcats began the 2020 season 10–5, good for a tie for third-place in the Pac-12 prior to the NCAA's decision to cancel the season on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the season's cancellation, all Division I college baseball players were granted an extra year of eligibility. [7]

Personnel

Roster

2021 Arizona Wildcats roster [8]
  Pitchers

• 4 - Gil Luna - Junior

• 12 - Garrett Irvin - Junior

• 14 - Jonathan Guardado - Junior

• 18 - Austin Smith - Junior

• 20 - Bryce Collins - Freshman

• 22 - Chandler Murphy - Freshman

• 25 - TJ Nichols - Freshman

• 26 - Vince Vannelle - Senior

• 27 - Dawson Netz - Freshman

• 29 - Chase Silseth - Sophomore

• 30 - Preston Price - Senior

• 34 - Ian Churchill - Junior

• 35 - Blake Peyton - Freshman

• 36 - George Arias Jr. - Sophomore

• 37 - German Fajardo - Freshman

• 38 - Riley Cooper - Freshman

• 38 - Ryan Kysar - Freshman

• 40 - Quinn Flanagan - Sophomore

• 43 - Javyn Pimental - Freshman

• 45 - Mason Millett - Sophomore

• 47 - Hunter Cope - Freshman

• 51 - Trevor Long - Freshman

• 99 - Randy Abshier - Sophomore

Catchers

• 6 - Daniel Susac - Freshman

• 31 - Kaden Hopson - Freshman

• 50 - Cameron Laliberte - Freshman

Infielders

• 1 - Kobe Kato - Sophomore

• 3 - Tony Bullard - Sophomore

• 5 - Kyson Donahue - Freshman

• 10 - Jacob Blas - Sophomore

• 15 - Jacob Berry - Freshman

• 19 - Nik McClaughry - Sophomore

• 33 - TJ Curd - Freshman

• 46 - Jack Grant - Freshman

Outfielders

• 7 - Mac Bingham - Freshman

• 8 - Chase Davis - Freshman

• 13 - Tyler Casagrande - Sophomore

• 16 - Kyle Casper - Freshman

• 17 - Branden Boissiere - Sophomore

• 23 - Donta Williams - Junior

• 28 - Blake Paugh - Junior

• 42 - Ryan Holgate - Sophomore

• 44 - Tanner O'Tremba - Freshman

• 52 - Tag Bross - Freshman

Utility

• 24 - Jacob Shaver - Freshman

Coaches

2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball coaching staff [9]
  • Jay Johnson - Head Coach
  • Nate Yeskie - Assistant Coach
  • Dave Lawn - Assistant Coach
  • Marc Wanaka - Volunteer Assistant Coach

Opening day

Opening Day Starters [10]
NamePosition
Donta Williams Center fielder
Jacob Blas Shortstop
Kobe Kato Second baseman
Branden Boissiere First baseman
Ryan Holgate Designated hitter
Daniel Susac Catcher
Tyler Casagrande Right fielder
Jacob Berry Third baseman
Mac Bingham Left fielder
Chase Silseth Starting pitcher

Schedule and results

2021 Arizona Wildcats baseball game log [11] [12] [13]
Regular season
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveOverall

Record

Pac-12

Record

Feb 19 Ball State #10 Hi Corbett FieldTucson, AZ W 3-0Silseth (1-0)Weatherly (0-1)Vannelle (1)1-0
Feb 20Ball State#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 7-8Baker (1-0)Churchill (0-1)None1-1
Feb 21Ball State#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Ruetschle (1-0)Flanagan (0-1)Orselli (1)1-2
Feb 22Ball State#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-5Nichols (1-0)Johnson (0-1)None2-2
Feb 25 Southeastern Louisiana #24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 7-4Silseth (2-0)Kinzeler (0-1)Price (1)3-2
Feb 26Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-11Murphy (1-0)Shaffer (1-1)Vannelle (2)4-2
Feb 27Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Long (1-0)Bartley (0-1)Flanagan (1)5-2
Feb 28Southeastern Louisiana#24Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Nichols (2-0)Upton (1-1)None6-2
Mar 4vs Oklahoma #24 Dr Pepper BallparkFrisco, TX W 20-13Vannelle (1-0)Taggart (0-1)None7-2
Mar 5vs Oklahoma#24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 12-1Murphy (2-0)Olds (0-1)None8-2
Mar 6vs Dallas Baptist #24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 15-8Vannelle (2-0)Sagedahl (0-1)Flanagan (2)9-2
Mar 7vs Missouri #24Dr Pepper Ballpark • Frisco, TXW 8-4Nichols (3-0)Hise (0-2)None10-2
Mar 11 Wichita State #13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (3-0)Eddy (1-2)Price (2)11-2
Mar 12Wichita State#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-10Stuempfig (2-0)Vannelle (2-1)Haase (3)11-3
Mar 13Wichita State-Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled-----
Mar 13 Air Force #13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 2-5Fairburn (2-2)Irvin (0-1)Skenes (2)11-4
Mar 14Wichita State-Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZCancelled-----
Mar 14Air Force#13Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-5Price (1-0)Shuger (0-1)None12-4
Mar 19at #15 UCLA #21 Jackie Robinson StadiumLos Angeles, CA L 2-3Mullen (4-0)Price (1-1)None12-50-1
Mar 20at #15 UCLA#21Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 7-3Cooper (1-0)Mora (1-1)Vannelle (3)13-51-1
Mar 21at #15 UCLA#21Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 3-11Saum (1-2)Flanagan (0-2)None13-61-2
Mar 22at Loyola Marymount #23 George C. Page Stadium • Los Angeles, CAW 18-2Long (2-0)Paquet (0-1)None14-6
Mar 26#15 Oregon #23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-4Silseth (4-0)Ahlstrom (1-2)Vannelle (4)15-62-2
Mar 27#15 Oregon#23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-2Irvin (1-1)Kafka (2-1)None16-63-2
Mar 28#15 Oregon#23Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 13-18Walker (3-1)Nichols (3-1)None16-73-3
Apr 1at #14 Arizona State #19 Phoenix Municipal StadiumPhoenix, AZ W 10-5Murphy (3-0)Corrigan (0-1)None17-74-3
Apr 2at #14 Arizona State#19Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 7-6Vannelle (3-1)Osman (1-2)Price (3)18-75-3
Apr 3at #14 Arizona State#19Phoenix Municipal Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 2-3Fall (4-1)Nichols (3-2)Levine (2)18-85-4
Apr 6#18 Arizona State#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-2Abshier (1-0)Bodlovich (0-1)None19-8
Apr 9 California #16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-1Silseth (5-0)Holman (0-1)None20-86-4
Apr 10California#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Irvin (2-1)White (3-1)Abshier (1)21-87-4
Apr 11California#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 1-9Pasqualotto (4-3)Nichols (3-3)Proctor (1)21-97-5
Apr 13at Grand Canyon #13 Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZL 4-5Glover (2-1)Vannelle (3-2)None21-10
Apr 16at Washington State #13 Bailey-Brayton FieldPullman, WA L 2-21White (5-2)Silseth (5-1)None21-117-6
Apr 17at Washington State#13Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 13-8Irvin (3-1)Mills (3-3)Flanagan (3)22-118-6
Apr 18at Washington State#13Bailey-Brayton Field • Pullman, WAW 14-8Murphy (4-0)Hawkins (2-5)Vannelle (5)23-119-6
Apr 20 New Mexico State #16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-4Abshier (2-0)Mejia (0-2)None24-11
Apr 23 USC #16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-5Silseth (6-1)Esqueda (4-2)Flanagan (4)25-1110-6
Apr 24USC#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 10-6Murphy (5-0)Gursky (1-1)None26-1111-6
Apr 25USC#16Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 8-4Smith (1-0)Cornwell (4-4)Vannelle (6)27-1112-6
Apr 30 Utah #10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-1Silseth (7-1)Kelly (0-8)None28-1113-6
May 1Utah#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-3Cooper (2-0)Hurdsman (1-1)Vannelle (7)29-1114-6
May 2Utah#10Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 15-3Smith (2-0)Watson (2-6)None30-1115-6
May 4Grand Canyon#8Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 13-2Nichols (4-3)Markl (1-1)None31-11
May 7at #14 Stanford #8 Sunken DiamondStanford, CA L 4-5Pancer (5-2)Flanagan (0-3)None31-1215-7
May 8at #14 Stanford#8Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAW 20-2Irvin (4-1)Mathews (4-1)None32-1216-7
May 9at #14 Stanford#8Sunken Diamond • Stanford, CAL 2-8Williams (1-1)Smith (2-1)None32-1316-8
May 10at Santa Clara - Schott StadiumSanta Clara, CA Cancelled-----
May 14 Washington #11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 17-16Abshier (3-0)Lamb (3-2)None33-1317-8
May 15Washington#11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-1Irvin (5-1)Guerrero (1-3)None34-1318-8
May 16Washington#11Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 11-2Luna (1-0)Raeth (2-2)None35-1319-8
May 18New Mexico State#8Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 14-3Murphy (6-0)Dickson Jr. (1-2)None36-13
May 21at Oregon State #8 Goss StadiumCorvallis, OR W 12-4Silseth (8-1)Washburn (3-2)None37-1320-8
May 22at Oregon State#8Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORL 1-3Hjerpe (3-5)Irvin (5-2)Mulholland (13)37-1420-9
May 23at Oregon State#8Goss Stadium • Corvallis, ORW 6-5Vannelle (4-2)Watkins (2-4)None38-1421-9
May 27 Dixie State #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-2Abshier (4-0)Gonzales (2-5)Luna (1)39-14
May 28Dixie State#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 9-11Hart (3-5)Flanagan (0-4)Hardman (1)39-15
May 29Dixie State#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-4Vannelle (5-2)Gerber (1-2)None40-15
NCAA Tucson Regional
Jun 4(4) Grand Canyon(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 12-6Nichols (5-3)Ohl (10-2)None41-15
Jun 5(3) UC Santa Barbara (1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 4-0Irvin (6-2)McGreevy (9-2)None42-15
Jun 6(3) UC Santa Barbara(1) #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 5-2Murphy (7-0)Callahan (3-4)Vannelle (8)43-15
NCAA Tucson Super Regional
Jun 11#14 Ole Miss #6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 9-3Cooper (3-0)Diamond (3-5)None44-15
Jun 12#14 Ole Miss#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZL 3-12Nikhazy (12-2)Irvin (6-3)Miller (1)44-16
Jun 13#14 Ole Miss#6Hi Corbett Field • Tucson, AZW 16-3Nichols (6-3)Broadway (4-3)None45-16
College World Series
Jun 19#1 Vanderbilt #5 TD Ameritrade ParkOmaha, NE L 6-7McElvain (5-1)Vannelle (5-3)None45-17
Jun 21#7 Stanford#5TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NEL 5-14Williams (5-2)Irvin (6-4)Palisch (2)45-18

Tucson Regional

Tucson Regional Teams
(1) Arizona Wildcats(4) Grand Canyon Antelopes(2) Oklahoma State Cowboys(3) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Tucson Super Regional

Tucson Super Regional Teams
(5) Arizona Wildcatsvs.(12) Ole Miss Rebels

College World Series

2021 College World Series Teams
NC State Wolfpack(9) Stanford Cardinal(5) Arizona Wildcats(4) Vanderbilt CommodoresVirginia Cavaliers(3) Tennessee Volunteers(7) Mississippi State Bulldogs(2) Texas Longhorns
First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
NC State 10
9 Stanford 4
NC State1
4 Vanderbilt 0
5 Arizona 6
4 Vanderbilt 712
NC State 1
Bracket 1
4 Vanderbilt3 [A]
9 Stanford14
5 Arizona 5
9 Stanford 5
4 Vanderbilt6
4 Vanderbilt 82 0
7 Mississippi State2 139
3 Tennessee 0
Virginia 6
Virginia 5
7 Mississippi State6
7 Mississippi State 2
2 Texas 1
7 Mississippi State5 4
Bracket 2
2 Texas 83
3 Tennessee 4
2 Texas8
2 Texas6
Virginia 2

Rankings

Ranking movements
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
Coaches' [15] *
Baseball America [16]
NCBWA [17]

NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

2021 MLB draft

PlayerPositionRoundOverallMLB Team
Ryan HolgateOF270 St. Louis Cardinals
Brandon BoissiereOF382 Washington Nationals
Donta' WilliamsOF4106 Baltimore Orioles
Gil LunaLHP9275 Chicago White Sox
Chase Silseth RHP11321 Los Angeles Angels
Kobe Kato2B13388 Houston Astros
Austin SmithRHP18547 Atlanta Braves

Notes

  1. Game declared no contest due to COVID-19 protocols with NC State. Vanderbilt advanced in the tournament. [14]

References

  1. "Pac-12 Baseball Standings". pac-12.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. Lev, Michael (January 25, 2021). "Arizona Wildcats rank 15th in Baseball America preseason poll". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  3. Lindberg, Kenny (February 2, 2021). "Put 'em in Coach, Arizona Baseball is ready to play!". Zona Zealots (FanSided). Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. "UA baseball team rallies past Oregon State to clinch share of Pac-12 title". Arizona Daily Star. May 23, 2021.
  5. Pedersen, Brian J. (May 28, 2021). "Arizona baseball falls at home to Dixie State but still clinches outright Pac-12 title". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  6. Pedersen, Brian J. (May 31, 2021). "Arizona baseball earns No. 5 overall seed in NCAA tournament". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. Schlabach, Mark (March 30, 2020). "NCAA approves extra year of eligibility for spring athletes". ESPN. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  8. "2021 Baseball Roster". University of Arizona Athletics. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019.
  9. "2021 Baseball Roster". University of Arizona Athletics. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  10. "Baseball vs Ball State on 2/19/2021 - Box Score". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  11. "Baseball Schedule". Arizona Wildcats. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  12. Lev, Michael (January 29, 2021). "Arizona baseball schedule features home opener vs. Ball State, Pac-12 opener at No. 2 UCLA". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  13. Pedersen, Brian J. (January 29, 2021). "Arizona baseball releases 2021 schedule". Arizona Desert Swarm (SB Nation). Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  14. "Vanderbilt-NC State College World Series game ruled no-contest due to COVID-19 protocols". NCAA.com. June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  15. "Baseball Coaches Poll". usatoday.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  16. "College Top 25". Baseball America. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  17. "NCBWA > News > Division I Poll". sportswriters.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2021.