TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (17-4, 4-0) and West Virginia Mountaineers (18-2, 1-1) needed 16 innings to decide a winner on Friday night, with the Wildcats ultimately coming away with a 6-4 victory.

The Arizona pitching staff was the highlight of the night after combining to strike out 29 batters, a program record. It shattered the previous school record of 21, set 85 years ago in April 1940. All seven pitchers used by the Wildcats tallied multiple strikeouts, with three contributing five or more.

Starting pitcher Collin McKinney did not factor into the decision after working 4.2 one-run innings to open the game. The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out six with 92 pitches.

Right-handed reliever Julian Tonghini (2-0) earned his second win of the season after working 3.0 scoreless innings while striking out a team-high seven. Fellow righty Matthew Martinez earned his first career save at the Division I level with a perfect 16th inning.

Overall, from the 10th inning on, the Arizona bullpen combined to hold West Virginia scoreless on just two hits while striking out 16.

Second baseman Richie Morales played the hero on offense for Arizona, pushing across two runs on a bases-loaded single in the 16th inning.

Arizona WildBATS

• 1B Tommy Splaine: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 4 BB
• RF Brendan Summerhill: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 BB, 1 HBP
• LF TJ Adams: 1-for-6, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• 2B Richie Morales: 1-for-8, 2 RBI
• SS Mason White: 2-for-8, R, 2B
• CF Aaron Walton: 2-for-8

Bullpen Bullies

• RHP Garrett Hicks: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
• RHP Hunter Alberini: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K
• RHP Julian Tonghini: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 7 K, Win (2-0)
• RHP Matthew Martinez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K, Save (1)

Numbers of the Night

• The Wildcats pitching staff piled up a program-record 29 strikeouts, besting the previous record of 21 set on April 26, 1940 against New Mexico.
• Friday night's 16-inning marathon was the Wildcats longest game since playing 18 innings against Stanford in 2002.
  • It was the longest home game in WVU Baseball history.

Photo of the Night

Social Media Coverage

?? An 85-year-old record goes ????????!

Wildcats tallied 2?9? strikeouts tonight and blew away the previous school record of 21 set in 1940! pic.twitter.com/ZAnhjSQKpf

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 22, 2025

??WILDCATS TAKE THE LEAD!??@richiemorales05 delivers a pair!!

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/SLQj40sFBl

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 22, 2025

Lay it out, @splaine_tommy! What a catch! ?????

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/4pzeHymS9D

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 22, 2025

We're headed to the 12th! Alberini with the punchy to strand a pair! ?? Morales leads us off next

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/486CqMvRVC

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 22, 2025

?? Cats twist two to end a threat in the 8th! One-run lead going into the final inning

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/3UWVSq2vWj

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 22, 2025

Infield single for @BrendanSummerh1 extends the lead! ???????

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/zaBARG4RBT

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 21, 2025

Cats strike first! @tjadams23 drives in a pair and gets a free 90 to move himself into scoring position! ??

?? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/Rw0uvvyDmk

— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) March 21, 2025

XXX

Next Up

The Wildcats go for the road series win on Saturday afternoon. First pitch on ESPN+ is slated for 1:00 p.m. MST