Recap: 2026 Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic - Game 4 - Arizona vs Vanderbilt

CONTACT: Jeffrey Seals

(702) 683-8050

February 28, 2026

Arizona used a four-run sixth to take down Vanderbilt, 5-1, Saturday night.

LAS VEGAS - The Arizona Wildcats knocked off the Vanderbilt Commodores, 5-1, at the Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic Saturday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. The Wildcats (2-8) erupted for four runs in the sixth and added an insurance tally, erasing an early 1-0 lead by the Commodores (7-4), who entered the week ranked No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

While the Wildcats waited for their offense to come to life their starting pitcher Smith Bailey (1-0) held the Vanderbilt offense in check through 6.0 innings of work. Bailey struck out six against one run off of three hits and two walks. His only blemish was a run-scoring double to Chris Maldonado in the second.

Arizona had its opportunities to produce the equalizer prior to its four-run outburst in the sixth, but left six on base between the first and fifth innings. 

In the decisive sixth, the Wildcats got the frame started with a double by Andrew Cain, which was followed by an RBI triple from Maddox Mihalakis. A walk to Roman Meyers put runners on the corners, allowing Jackson Forbes to drop down a sacrifice bunt to allow both to move up 90 feet - making it 2-1 in Arizona’s favor. After two more batters reached safely via walk and hit by pitch, Nate Novitske capped the inning’s scoring with a two-run single to short.

Meyers upped Arizona’s lead to four runs with a solo homer in the seventh.

The Wildcats’ bullpen maintained the success on the mound initially started by Bailey, as a trio of relievers - Patrick Morris, Evan Brandt and Garrett Hicks - combined for 3.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, two hits and two walks. 

Vanderbilt’s Austin Nye got the start for the Commodores; however, it was short-lived as the right-hander only threw one inning before leaving the contest. Nye struck out one and allowed one hit.

Wyatt Nadeau tossed 4.0 innings in relief of Nye and continued to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard, striking out three with two hits and two walks.

Alex Kranzler entered in the fifth and only lasted five batters and 0.1 innings, getting roughed up for four runs off two hits and two walks.

Jacob Schulz, Hudson Barton and Connor Hamilton tossed the final 3.2 frames for Arizona and teamed up for one run off of three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.

The teams wrap up their stay at the Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic Sunday with one game apiece. The Commodores will return for an 11:00 am contest against the Oregon Ducks, while the Wildcats face the UC Irvine Anteaters in the tournament finale at 3:00 pm.

All games of the Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic will be streamed exclusively on D1Baseball.com, with Mike Ferrin handling play-by-play duties and Mike Rooney providing color commentary.

Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic Standings:

1.  UC Irvine - 2-0

2.  Arizona - 2-0

     Oregon - 2-0

4.  Vanderbilt - 0-2

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