TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona baseball team dropped the first of a four-game series against the UConn Huskies Thursday night, falling in 12 innings by a final score of 6-4.

Arizona recorded nine hits, while UConn tallied 12 hits throughout the game. 

Freshman Tony Lira had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, going 2-5 at the plate, in addition to reaching base via a walk and scoring one run. Carson McEntire also had a multi-hit performance, as he went 2-5 at the plate with a double and an RBI. 

Luc Fladda started on the mound for the Wildcats and had a stellar outing, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out three batters. Benton Hickman and Patrick Morris each had strong performances in relief, as Hickman threw one inning and allowed no hits and no runs, while recording two strikeouts. Morris had his best outing of the season, pitching 3.0 innings, striking out four batters, and allowing just one hit and no runs.

UConn scored one run in the second inning to take the lead, and they tacked on two more in the top of the sixth, as they built a 3-0 advantage. The Wildcats offense woke up in the bottom of the sixth, as Andrew Cain drew a walk, before McEntire singled to left field. Beau Sylvester dug in and laced a double down the left field line to bring Cain home and trim the deficit. 

Arizona continued to battle, as they scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3. Mathis Meurant drew a leadoff walk, and after a sacrifice bunt by Cash Brennan, Meurant advanced to second. Maddox Mihalakis smashed a double to left field in the next at-bat to score Meurant. Cain immediately followed with a double of his own, as Mihalakis crossed home on the play. 

Both teams remained scoreless until the 12th inning when UConn managed to plate three runs. Arizona scored a run in the bottom half of the inning; but they were unable to match UConn's three runs in the top half of the frame, as they fell to the Huskies.

Arizona will return to the field to face UConn for the second game of the series on Friday night, with the contest scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.