In the 11th inning and the bases loaded, freshman Cesar Salazar stepped to the plate with a College World Series bid on the line.
And he came through, knocking a single through the right side, sending Arizona back to Omaha for the first time since 2012 with a 6-5 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Arizona’s rally began in the 8th. Down 5-1 at the time, the first five hitters of the frame reached base, including a 3-run home run by Ryan Aguilar to draw the Wildcats within one.
But the Cats would strand two, keeping it a 5-4 game heading to the ninth.