For the first time this season, Arizona baseball is entering the weekend with a win.
Owen Kramkowski threw six scoreless innings, tossing a career-high 12 strikeouts to lead the Wildcats to a 6-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday evening at Hi Corbett Field. Kramkowski, who was winless in his previous three starts, provided the UA (4-9) with the type of quality start expected of the junior.
All dozen of Kramkowski’s strikeouts were of the swinging variation. Early on, it wasn’t clear whether Kramkowski would have his A level stuff. He gave up a triple to the game’s first batter and allowed runners to reach in each of the first three innings.
Kramkowski settled in from there, retiring 10 of the last 12 batters he faced. Kramkowski gave up five hits and walked none. His dozen strikeouts were the most by an Arizona pitcher since Clark Candiotti recorded 12 Ks vs. UCLA on March 29, 2024.
The outing was a bounce back for the righty Kramkowski, who allowed six earned runs in Arizona’s 7-2 loss to Oregon last Friday in Las Vegas.
Unlike last Friday – or through most of early going the season – Arizona’s offense provided some early run support.
Tony Lira put the Wildcats on the board with a first inning t3-run homer. The freshman has a team-leading eight RBI.
Arizona added another run in the first on a fielder’s choice and extended the lead in the fourth inning when Maddox Mihalakis drove in a run on a sac fly. Mihalakis hit an RBI single in the sixth to make the score 6-0.
Mihalakis, who entered the day batting .100, went 2-for-3 for his first multi-hit game of the season.
Nate Novitske had three hits as his batting average improved to a team-best .450.
Arizona’s bullpen made light work of Fresno State in the later innings. Corey Kling pitched two scoreless frames, and Benton Hickman finished the game with an uneventful ninth inning.
The shutout was Arizona’s first since holding Oregon scoreless in last year’s NCAA Regional in Eugene.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs are back in action Saturday with a 6 p.m. MST first pitch.