The Arizona Wildcats got a strong performance from Nathan Bannister on the mound and timely hitting from players like Jared Oliva and Zach Gibbons brought in the runs that the team needed to put the Hurricanes into the losers bracket after the first game of the College World Series.
Starting pitcher for the Hurricanes Michael Mediavilla started off the game on a really bad note. Walked two and hit two batters within the first five at bats and gave Arizona a 1 – 0 lead right out of the gate. In the early part of the first inning it was clear that Mediavilla was just not finding his spot and missing them all to the glove side of his catcher Zach Collins. After walking in the first run it was a hit by Jared Oliva bringing in two runs but the inning ended on a throw out to home on a bad base running decision by the Cats even after coach Jay Johnson gave the signal for his runner to hold at third.
Arizona was lucky that the mistake didn’t cost them at the end. The Hurricanes, who normally are boisterous and loud and carry quite a bit of swagger with them, seemed humbled and disinterested towards the later parts of the game. Collins, the tenth overall selection by the White Sox in this year’s entry draft for the Major League was struggling after striking out twice along with Edgar “Bat Flip” Michelangeli striking out three times and one fly out in the last half of the ninth inning.
All season long the ‘Canes were known to be a team that scored in bunches and were able to hit throughout the lineup with power. Yet they seemed almost frozen at the plate after watching the ball sail through on third strike calls eight times on the night, seven of which came off of Bannister’s arm. The pitcher had a tremendous day with his stuff from the mound and specifically had the change up working like a master. He painted the outside low corner and the high inside parts of the plate with his change up for first pitch strikes and seemed to go with his curve ball as the out pitch for the early part of the game before sticking with the fastball after getting the four run lead.
Gibbons, who passed Terry Francona on the all-time hits list for the Arizona program, drove in a few runs himself but froze at the plate after losing where the ball went after a strong swing. Thinking the ball was going to pull foul, that two seconds of hesitation cost him a potential triple as he was thrown out at third base from the right field wall. While the game was not a one run affair that seems commonplace for this year’s team, those kinds of base running mistakes could cost the Wildcats at a later point in the tournament if it becomes a routine.
After Bannister finished his day, Cameron Ming came in and closed the door and added to the strikeout count to finish it up at 13 on the night. The pitching for Arizona was not in the top tier going into the CWS it certainly looks like the arms of Arizona are locked in now. Bobby Dalbec didn’t pitch during the game, but it is expected that he will start the next game against Oklahoma State. After having a great showing in the Super Regional it is safe to say he will feed off of that performance going into the next game if he gets the call.
After the game the Hurricanes looked dejected and depressed, likely because the whole bench of Arizona was relentless as the game went on. Taunting and antics all along the dug out maybe threw the Hurricanes off, especially Mediavilla who seemed to get worse the longer he would look at the bench. Perhaps it is poetic justice against Miami and all of their so called “swagger”, but in the end as long as you win I guess it is just viewed as harmless fun instead of bush-league antics. Arizona better watch out that Oklahoma State doesn’t treat them the same way. Turnabout is fair play after all.