Arizona slugs past Oklahoma to open Frisco College Baseball Classic

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the score totals and rallies in college baseball.

Arizona rallied from down six runs early to blow past Oklahoma 20-13 in its first game at the Frisco College Baseball Classic on Thursday afternoon in Frisco, Texas.

The Wildcats (7-2) outscored the Sooners 17-4 over the final six innings, scoring 16 runs during a 4-inning stretch to win their sixth straight game.

A 6-run bottom of the third put Oklahoma (4-4) ahead 9-3 before the UA scored four times in both the fourth and fifth, added two runs in the sixth and then opened things up with a 6-run seventh. Mac Bingham’s 2-run home run in the fifth put the Wildcats up for good at 10-9.

Arizona had 19 hits, with every starter getting at least one and seven recording at least two. Blake Paugh went 4 for 6 with 3 RBI, Kobe Kato was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and 5 runs scored, and Bingham, Jacob Blas and Jacob Berry all had 3 RBI. Berry’s output included a solo homer in the second.

UA starter Chase Silseth was tagged for 10 runs and 11 hits in 4.1 innings, while Vince Vanelle picked up the win by throwing two innings of relief. The Wildcat pitchers allowed 15 hits and yielded 11 walks.

Arizona and Oklahoma meet up again Friday at 11 a.m. MST, with the Wildcats facing Dallas Baptist on Saturday and Missouri on Sunday.