No. 16 Arizona Faces Washington on Montlake

SEATTLE, Wash. — The No. 16 Arizona Wildcats (25-14, 13-5) visit the Pacific Northwest for a three-game Pac-12 series against the Washington Huskies (14-19-1, 6-12) this weekend.

All three games will be live streamed, as well as broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM and The Varsity app.

The Wildcats carry a 10-game Pac-12 win streak into this weekend's action in Seattle, the longest conference win streak for the program since joining the Pac-10 in 1979.

Arizona has also won four straight, a streak during which the offense has complimented the pitching with seven-plus runs in all four games.

For more, a complete weekend preview is below.
 

Leading Off...

• The No. 16 Arizona Wildcats meet the Washington Huskies for a three-game Pac-12 series in Seattle this weekend. All three games will be available to view via free live stream, as well as broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM and The Varsity app with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• Arizona and Washington have faced off 73 times previously, with games dating back to 1992. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 42-31 (.575), against the Huskies.
• The Wildcats took 2-of-3 games in the most recent series, a 2023 showdown in Tucson. Washington took the opener before Arizona responded with back-to-back wins to secure the series.
• Arizona has won four straight series against Washington, with the Huskies most recent series win coming in 2018 (3-0) in Seattle.
• The Wildcats have won 10 straight Pac-12 games, the longest conference win streak for Arizona since the program joined the Pac-10 in 1979.
• Shortstop Mason White enters the weekend leading the Pac-12 with 52 RBI, while his 14 home runs rank third in the conference.
• Arizona is currently ranked in all five national polls, checking in at No. 16 with D1Baseball, No. 17 with the NCBWA and Perfect Game, No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and No. 23 at Baseball America.
• The Wildcats rank among the Top 10 teams in the nation in ERA (6th, 3.75), fewest walks per nine innings (1st, 2.48), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd, 3.74).

SOME SERIES THEMES: The No. 16 Arizona Wildcats meet the Washington Huskies for a three-game Pac-12 series in Seattle this weekend...All three games will be available to view via free live stream with play-by-play from AJ Kanell...The series will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM and The Varsity app with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries...Arizona and Washington have faced off 73 times previously, with games dating back to 1992...The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 42-31 (.575), against the Huskies...The Wildcats took 2-of-3 games in the most recent series, a 2023 showdown in Tucson...Washington took the opener before Arizona responded with back-to-back wins to secure the series...Arizona has won four straight series against Washington, with the Huskies most recent series win coming in 2018 (3-0) in Seattle...The Wildcats have won 10 straight Pac-12 games, the longest conference win streak for Arizona since the program joined the Pac-10 in 1979...Shortstop Mason White enters the weekend leading the Pac-12 with 52 RBI, while his 14 home runs rank third in the conference...Arizona is currently ranked in all five national polls, checking in at No. 16 with D1Baseball, No. 17 with the NCBWA and Perfect Game, No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and No. 23 at Baseball America...The Wildcats pitching staff ranks among the Top 10 in the nation in ERA (6th, 3.75), fewest walks per nine innings (1st, 2.48), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd, 3.74)...Arizona also leads the Pac-12 in ERA, fewest walks, and WHIP...Washington is led by second-year head coach Jason Kelly, who has steered the Huskies to a record of 49-39 during his time on Montlake.

PAC-10: The Wildcats come into the weekend having won 10 straight Pac-12 Conference games, the program's longest single-season conference win streak since joining the Pac-10 for the 1979 baseball season. Across those 45-plus seasons in the Pac-10/12, Arizona's previous longest single-season conference game win streak was been eight games, accomplished five times. The Wildcats current streak is five games shy of what is believed to be the longest single-season Pac-12 win streak, a 15-game streak compiled by Stanford from March 3–April 27, 1990.

Pac-12 10+ Game Win Streaks (courtesy of Pac-12 office)

• ARIZ: 10-game streak Mar 24-current
• ASU: 12-game streak Mar 20-Apr 19 1998 (snapped by Arizona, April 24 in 10 innings)
• ASU: 13-game streak Mar 9-Apr 20 1990 (snapped at UCLA, April 21)
• ASU: 10-game streak Mar 18-Apr 8 1984 (snapped at USC, April 13)
• ASU: 12-game streak Apr 3-Apr 26 1981 (snapped at Stanford, May 1)
• ASU: 11-game streak Mar 6-Mar 29 1981 (snapped at Arizona, April 2)
• CAL: None since at least 1996
• ORE: None since at least 1978
• OSU: 10-game streak Apr 13-May 11 2019 (snapped at Oregon, May 12)
• OSU: 10-game streak Apr 30-May 21 2017 (final 10 of regular season + won first 5 next season for 15 overall conf games)
• OSU: 12-game streak Mar 16-Apr 9 2017 (snapped at Washington Apr 13, first 12 conf games of the season + final 4 of 2016 season for 16 straight overall)
• OSU: 11-game streak Apr 12-May 11 2014 (snapped at Washington, May 16)
• OSU: 10-game streak Apr 21-May 12 2013 (snapped at Oregon, May 17)
• OSU: 10-game streak Apr 2-Apr 22 2011 (snapped vs WSU, Apr 23)
• STAN: 15-game streak Mar 3-Apr 27 1990 (snapped in 2nd game of DH at ASU, Apr 27)
• UCLA: None since at least 1978
• USC: 11-game streak Mar 30-Apr 21 1996 (snapped Apr 26 at ASU)
• USC: 10-game streak Apr 2-Apr 23 1995 (snapped Apr 28 vs Cal)
• USC: 14-game streak Feb 23-Mar 30 1991 (snapped Apr 5 at Stan)
• UTAH: None since joining Pac-12
• UW: 10-game streak Apr 6-Apr 21 1985 (Snapped in 2nd game of DH vs OSU)
• WSU: 12-game streak Apr 29-May 19 1990

STREAKONOMICS: Three Wildcats enter this weekend's series with hitting streaks of five games or longer: Infielder Garen Caulfield (8 games), outfielder Brendan Summerhill (6 games), and infielder Mason White (5 games). Outfielder Brendan Summerhill has posted the longest hit streak of the season thus far, a 12-game streak that was snapped on April 7 at California. Summerhill also holds the longest on-base streak on the team, an active streak that is now at 33 consecutive games. Over that 33-game stretch, Summerhill has posted a .428 on-base percentage; he has drawn 20 walks and collected 47 hits during the streak. Garen Caulfield (14 games), Mason White (10 games), Blake McDonald (6 games), and Adonys Guzman (5 games) all carry extended on-base streaks of their own into this weekend's action in Seattle.

PITCH PERFECT: Arizona's pitching staff has excelled this season at limiting walks and striking opponents out. The Wildcats have issued the fewest walks (95) in the Pac-12 this season and are the only team with under 100 walks issued, while their 355 strikeouts and 9.25 K/9 rank fourth and third on the circuit, respectively. On a national stage, Arizona's impressive 2.48 BB/9 rate is the best in Division I, while their 3.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks second.

SHORTSTOP SLUGGERS: Sophomore infielder Mason White, the Wildcats everyday shortstop this season, currently leads the team and ranks third in the Pac-12 with 14 home runs through the first 39 games of the season. Dating back through the 1998 season (StatCrew era), no Arizona shortstop has hit more home runs in a single season. He is just five home runs shy of breaking into the Wildcats all-time single-season leaderboard. If the season ended today, his 11.14 HR/AB ratio would be the sixth-best mark in program history.

DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT: The Wildcats pitching staff, under the direction of first-year pitching coach Kevin Vance and director of player development John DeRouin, have dropped their team ERA more than two full runs from their 2023 performance. Arizona's 2.22 drop in team ERA from 2023 to 2024 is the eighth best improvement across all Division I programs, and the fourth best improvement among Power Five programs.

MILESTONE MEN: With a win over UCLA on March 29, Arizona Baseball picked up the 3,000th victory in program history. The Wildcats joined the ranks of just nine other programs that boast 3,000 program wins. As it currently stands, Arizona is the 10th all-time winningest program in the history of college baseball. Four of the winningest programs in college baseball history are current members of the Pac-12 Conference.

SUMMER-THRILL: Sophomore outfielder Brendan Summerhill has enjoyed a breakout game for the Wildcats this season, leading the team and ranking third in the Pac-12 with a .367 batting average. Summerhill paces the Wildcats in runs scored (40), doubles (13), and on-base percentage (.432). In addition to his currently active 33-game on-base streak, Summerhill has reached base via hit or walk in all but one of his 38 games played this season.

NOTHING BUT NETZ: Fifth-year senior Dawson Netz has established himself as one of the most experienced pitchers in Arizona Baseball history. Going into this weekend, Netz has logged 87 appearances in his collegiate career — 14 starts and 73 relief — tied for the fourth most games pitched in Wildcat history with Bryce Bandilla (2009-11). His 87 pitching appearances are tied for the 18th most among all active Division I pitchers. Netz recently moved past Ben White (1993-96) on the all-time leaderboard, the father of Dawson's current teammate, Mason White. He is currently on pace to finish the regular season with 92 career pitching appearances in an Arizona uniform, which would rank third all-time. Netz needs just one more appearance to break into the top three.