Salpointe Catholic grad Mason White’s 2-run single pushes UA to Omaha

CHAPEL HILL (NC) — Arizona scored three times in the 8th inning Sunday to rally for a 4-3 victory over No. 5 seed North Carolina in Game 3 of the Super Regionals at Boshamer Stadium, clinching the program’s 19th trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

UA overcame a devastating 18-2 loss in Game 1 to win the final two games of the three-game series.

Closer Tony Pluta, who threw a season-high 52 pitches on Saturday, came on in the 9th Sunday to shut the door on a program-record 14th save, breaking Jason Stoffel’s record (13) set in the Wildcats’ 2008 run to the Super Regionals.

Garen Caulfield hit a solo home run in the 2nd inning to give the Cats an early 1-0 advantage, but the Tar Heels countered for three in the 3rd on a blast from their captain Jackson Van De Brake.

The game stayed 3-1 North Carolina for five innings until UA struck in the 8th.

NORTH CAROLINA POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

The first four Wildcats reached base in the inning. 2 UNC errors helped produce the first run and then Arizona star shortstop Mason White delivered a bases-loaded two-run single to put Arizona on top.

After giving up 26 runs in Games 1 & 2, UA held the Tar Heels to three runs in Game 3. Starter Smith Bailey made the lone mistake to Van De Brake but allowed just four other hits in six innings. He did walk three but struck out four.

Arizona’s bullpen was dynamite down the stretch. Julian Tonghini, Casey Hintz and Pluta pitched three no-hit innings to finalize the Wildcats’ Super Regional triumph.

And ironically UA (43-18) will face Coastal Carolina in their 1st game of the College World Series. The Chanticleers beat the Wildcats two-games-to-one to win the 2016 national championship.

CCU upset No. 4 seed Auburn in a two-game sweep to secure their spot in Omaha.

ARIZONA IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

• 2025: Game 1 vs. Coastal Carolina (Time: TBD)
• 2021: (0-2)
• 2016: (5-3) Lost in CWS Finals Series (2-1) to Coastal Carolina
• 2012: (5-0) Won National Championship Series (2-0) over South Carolina
• 2004: (1-2)
• 1986: (4-1) Won National Championship Game (2-1) over Florida State
• 1985: (0-2)
• 1980: (5-1) Won National Championship Game (5-3) over Hawaii
• 1979: (1-2)
• 1976: (5-1) Won National Championship Game (7-1) over Eastern Michigan
• 1970: (0-2)
• 1966: (1-2)
• 1963: (4-2) Lost in CWS Championship Game (5-2) to Southern California
• 1960: (2-2)
• 1959: (3-2) Lost in CWS Championship Game (5-3) to Oklahoma State
• 1958: (0-2)
• 1956: (4-2) Lost in CWS Championship Game (12-1) to Minnesota
• 1955: (2-2)
• 1954: (1-2)

Copyright 2025 Wildcats Radio 1290. All rights reserved.