TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona Wildcats stayed alive in the NCAA Lafayette Regional on Sunday night, topping Sam Houston State 7-6 in an elimination game.

The Cats will now face Louisiana in the regional final and will have to beat the Ragin' Cajuns twice in order to advance to the Super Regionals.

The first game is set for 11 a.m., MST. Should Louisiana win, the Ragin' Cajuns will advance. If Arizona wins, the two teams will meet again at 5 p.m.

The Cats have yet to announce a starter.

Follow @ArizonaBaseball on Twitter and continue to check here at ArizonaWildcats.com for updates.



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Game 1:

Arizona 7, Sam Houston State 3

WP: Bannister (10-2); LP: Donica (10-4)

Game 2:

Arizona vs. UL Lafayette

TBA vs. LHP Gunner Leger

Leading Off...

• The Wildcats will open play Friday afternoon vs. No. 3 seed Sam Houston State. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Arizona has also never faced Louisiana, and is 1-0 all time vs. Princeton, seeded No. 4 in the Lafayette Regional.

• Under Johnson, the Cats won 38 regular season games, which is the most since winning the same number in 2012 and 2008. The 2012 team went on to capture the College World Series title, while the 2008 team advanced to the Super Regionals in Miami. The 38 wins are the most ever by a first-year coach in Arizona history. Jerry Kindall won 37 games in his first year as Arizona coach.

• The last time the Wildcats were in the postseason, they went 10-0 en route to a national championship. The team won the Tucson Regional, beating Louisville twice and Missouri once. The Cats then topped St. John's twice in the Super Regionals, before going 5-0 at the College World Series, posting wins over Florida State, South Carolina and UCLA.

• The Wildcats have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Friday's regional opener vs. Sam Houston State.

Pitching Notes

No Senioritis for Bannister: Senior right-hander Nathan Bannister has developed into the ace of the staff for the Arizona Wildcats this season. Bannister leads the team in innings pitched (112.2), strikeouts (84), complete games (3) and is tied for the lead in starts (14). Bannister is first in the Pac-12 in innings pitched, tied for second in wins, fifth in strikeouts, ninth in earned run average and fourth in opposing batting average. All total this season, Bannister is 9-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .201 against him this season and he's holding left-handed hitters to a .187 average, holding them to just 36-193. He's also holding hitters to a .150 clip with two outs (19-127) and a .211 average with runners on base. He is 6-1 with a 1.07 ERA at Hi Corbett Field this season, with wins over Cal-State Fullerton, Northwestern State, Sacramento State, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State. Bannister's .201 batting average against is the best by an Arizona starter in at least 20 years. In 2007, Preston Guilmet, who earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year honors, held opposing hitters to a .205 clip. : Senior right-handerhas developed into the ace of the staff for the Arizona Wildcats this season. Bannister leads the team in innings pitched (112.2), strikeouts (84), complete games (3) and is tied for the lead in starts (14). Bannister is first in the Pac-12 in innings pitched, tied for second in wins, fifth in strikeouts, ninth in earned run average and fourth in opposing batting average. All total this season, Bannister is 9-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .201 against him this season and he's holding left-handed hitters to a .187 average, holding them to just 36-193. He's also holding hitters to a .150 clip with two outs (19-127) and a .211 average with runners on base. He is 6-1 with a 1.07 ERA at Hi Corbett Field this season, with wins over Cal-State Fullerton, Northwestern State, Sacramento State, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State. Bannister's .201 batting average against is the best by an Arizona starter in at least 20 years. In 2007, Preston Guilmet, who earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year honors, held opposing hitters to a .205 clip.

Clowning on Hitters: Junior left-hander JC Cloney has brought stability and aggressiveness to the Arizona starting rotation this year in his first season with the Wildcats. The junior college transfer has posted a 2.38 ERA in 90 2/3 innings. His ERA leads the team and the 90 2/3 innings are second. He's made 15 starts, going 6-3 with one complete game, which came in March at home against UCLA. Cloney has been especially good in two areas this season -- versus left-handed hitters and facing men with runners on base. Against lefties, Cloney is allowing batters to hit just .163 (13-80). With runners on, opposing batters are batting just .194 (26-134). : Junior left-handerhas brought stability and aggressiveness to the Arizona starting rotation this year in his first season with the Wildcats. The junior college transfer has posted a 2.38 ERA in 90 2/3 innings. His ERA leads the team and the 90 2/3 innings are second. He's made 15 starts, going 6-3 with one complete game, which came in March at home against UCLA. Cloney has been especially good in two areas this season -- versus left-handed hitters and facing men with runners on base. Against lefties, Cloney is allowing batters to hit just .163 (13-80). With runners on, opposing batters are batting just .194 (26-134).

More on Cloney: Cloney's season has been one of the best ever by a first-year pitcher in Arizona history. Cloney, who transferred to Arizona from College of the Canyons, has a 2.38 ERA, which is the lowest by a first-year pitcher at Arizona in Pac-10/12 era. Steve Powers, in his first year on the roster in 1975, sported a 1.75 ERA while Arizona was in the WAC Conference. Arguably the best season by a first-year pitcher at Arizona came in 1989 when junior college transfer and current Pac-12 Networks analyst Scott Erickson went 18-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 172 2/3 innings.

A Total Team Effort: Arizona posted a staff ERA this regular season of 3.43, which is the lowest since the Cats pitching staff posted a 3.25 ERA in 1976, which resulted in national championship No. 1 under Jerry Kindall. In 2011, Arizona posted a 3.57 ERA. The Cats have three pitchers with 61 or more innings with an ERA under 3.08 in JC Cloney , Nathan Bannister and Bobby Dalbec . Cloney and Bannister, both full-time starters, have ERAs of 2.38 and 2.73 respectively. Dalbec has an ERA of 3.08 in 64 1/3 innings. Arizona posted a staff ERA this regular season of 3.43, which is the lowest since the Cats pitching staff posted a 3.25 ERA in 1976, which resulted in national championship No. 1 under Jerry Kindall. In 2011, Arizona posted a 3.57 ERA. The Cats have three pitchers with 61 or more innings with an ERA under 3.08 inand. Cloney and Bannister, both full-time starters, have ERAs of 2.38 and 2.73 respectively. Dalbec has an ERA of 3.08 in 64 1/3 innings.

Moving on Up: After its first Pac-12 series this season, Arizona had a staff ERA of 4.58. Since, the Cats have cut more than a run off that with its 3.43 ERA entering the postseason. The mark ranks third in the Pac-12, behind Cal and Stanford. The Cats were last over four after the first game of the series versus Stanford when it was 4.01. Since, the Cats have kept their ERA in the threes. In conference play, the Cats have an ERA of 3.52, which is third in the conference. Oregon State, after posting three straight shutouts of UCLA, is the leader at 3.35. Stanford finished with a 3.50 ERA. The Cats are also second in opposing batting average in conference games only at .242 and eighth in strikeouts with 184. Making the ERA and opposing batting average numbers even more impressive is that Arizona leads the conference in innings pitched at 514 2/3.

The Great Dalbino: Junior third baseman/pitcher Bobby Dalbec continues to prove he's one of the best two-way players in the nation. The right-hander had made three straight starts, before appearing out of the bullpen at Cal for his 14th relief appearance of the season. He then appeared out of the bullpen twice against USC, tossing four shutout innings and earning his 13th career save in the opening game of the series. After missing the Oregon State series, Dalbec notched his seventh save of the season in a Saturday win over Arizona State. Dalbec is 8-4 on the season with a 3.08 ERA and seven saves. Dalbec has 55 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings and is holding left-handed hitters to just a .180 average (18-100). Dalbec has 116 RBI to his credit at the plate in his career and 125 strikeouts on the mound. He's the only player in program history with double-digit career wins (14), saves (14) and home runs (22), proving why he's such a valuable weapon at the plate and on the mound. Dalbec was named to the 18-man John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List. He's the only Pac-12 player on the list. It's the second straight year Dalbec has been on the watch list. Dalbec has also awakened at the plate lately, finishing the season in a 10-19 groove with four multiple-hit games in his last seven contests. He has also raised his batting average over .250 for the season. Junior third baseman/pitchercontinues to prove he's one of the best two-way players in the nation. The right-hander had made three straight starts, before appearing out of the bullpen at Cal for his 14th relief appearance of the season. He then appeared out of the bullpen twice against USC, tossing four shutout innings and earning his 13th career save in the opening game of the series. After missing the Oregon State series, Dalbec notched his seventh save of the season in a Saturday win over Arizona State. Dalbec is 8-4 on the season with a 3.08 ERA and seven saves. Dalbec has 55 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings and is holding left-handed hitters to just a .180 average (18-100). Dalbec has 116 RBI to his credit at the plate in his career and 125 strikeouts on the mound. He's the only player in program history with double-digit career wins (14), saves (14) and home runs (22), proving why he's such a valuable weapon at the plate and on the mound. Dalbec was named to the 18-man John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List. He's the only Pac-12 player on the list. It's the second straight year Dalbec has been on the watch list. Dalbec has also awakened at the plate lately, finishing the season in a 10-19 groove with four multiple-hit games in his last seven contests. He has also raised his batting average over .250 for the season.

Hitting Notes

Zach Gibbons Knows the Keys to Success: Zach Gibbons joined the 250-hit Club on Sunday, May 8 with his bunt up the third base line against Oregon State … He is now alone in seventh place in Arizona history with 268 career hits and is one away from sixth place and three away from fifth … Last weekend, he passed Brad Boyer and John Tejeck on the all-time hitting list… Gibbons has been a model of consistency since he became a Wildcat in 2013. He has a career batting average of .335 and an OBP of .417 … This year, he is playing at an All-Conference level by batting .385 with 84 hits (a career high), 39 RBI (a career high) and 12 doubles (also a career high) with nine stolen bases while manning right field … He finished second in the conference in batting average, had the most hits and his OBP of .472 was third… In conference play, Gibbons had the second-highest batting average (.387), the second-most hits (43) and the third-best OBP (.473) … Gibbons has recorded at least one hit in in all but seven games this season and has at least one hit in 24 of the last 28 games … Since March 20, Gibbons is batting .421 with 64 hits, eight doubles and a triple in the 38 games since then … During that time, he has only struck out 13 times ... Arizona is 19-5 when Gibbons has a multi-hit game … While patrolling right field all year for Arizona, he has not recorded an error in 107 chances … The senior went 10-15 in the final series of the regular season last weekend against Hawaii. joined the 250-hit Club on Sunday, May 8 with his bunt up the third base line against Oregon State … He is now alone in seventh place in Arizona history with 268 career hits and is one away from sixth place and three away from fifth … Last weekend, he passed Brad Boyer and John Tejeck on the all-time hitting list… Gibbons has been a model of consistency since he became a Wildcat in 2013. He has a career batting average of .335 and an OBP of .417 … This year, he is playing at an All-Conference level by batting .385 with 84 hits (a career high), 39 RBI (a career high) and 12 doubles (also a career high) with nine stolen bases while manning right field … He finished second in the conference in batting average, had the most hits and his OBP of .472 was third… In conference play, Gibbons had the second-highest batting average (.387), the second-most hits (43) and the third-best OBP (.473) … Gibbons has recorded at least one hit in in all but seven games this season and has at least one hit in 24 of the last 28 games … Since March 20, Gibbons is batting .421 with 64 hits, eight doubles and a triple in the 38 games since then … During that time, he has only struck out 13 times ... Arizona is 19-5 when Gibbons has a multi-hit game … While patrolling right field all year for Arizona, he has not recorded an error in 107 chances … The senior went 10-15 in the final series of the regular season last weekend against Hawaii.

Ramer Ramps It Up: Cody Ramer has been spectacular this year for Arizona in his senior season … Prior to this year, Ramer had not batted over .250 for a season and is currently second on the team with a .358 batting average this year … He has already made 233 at bats this year, which is the most he has made in one season. His previous high was 124 in 2014 … Coming into this season, he had collected 50 hits in 98 games played and had 83 in the 58 regular season games this year … The senior has been playing at an All-Conference level this season, and his numbers prove it … He finished second in the Pac-12 with 83 hits, was tied for first in runs scored (53), had the most triples (8) and had the fourth-best batting average (.356) … As the team's normal leadoff hitter, it is a good sign to see that he has an on base percentage of .450 when he is the leads off the inning … Ramer has been put atop of the lineup in 56 of the team's 58 games this season … He is also batting .418 with two outs … His 28 multi-hit games leads the team … He has recorded at least one hit in all but eight games this year, has 38 hits in his last 27 games, has walked 27 times in the last 30 games and his batting average has never been lower than .310 this year. has been spectacular this year for Arizona in his senior season … Prior to this year, Ramer had not batted over .250 for a season and is currently second on the team with a .358 batting average this year … He has already made 233 at bats this year, which is the most he has made in one season. His previous high was 124 in 2014 … Coming into this season, he had collected 50 hits in 98 games played and had 83 in the 58 regular season games this year … The senior has been playing at an All-Conference level this season, and his numbers prove it … He finished second in the Pac-12 with 83 hits, was tied for first in runs scored (53), had the most triples (8) and had the fourth-best batting average (.356) … As the team's normal leadoff hitter, it is a good sign to see that he has an on base percentage of .450 when he is the leads off the inning … Ramer has been put atop of the lineup in 56 of the team's 58 games this season … He is also batting .418 with two outs … His 28 multi-hit games leads the team … He has recorded at least one hit in all but eight games this year, has 38 hits in his last 27 games, has walked 27 times in the last 30 games and his batting average has never been lower than .310 this year.

Aggie Comes Into His Own: Senior Ryan Aguilar was given the chance to be a regular in the lineup by head coach Jay Johnson this year, and he has done nothing to disappoint … After playing in just 26 games and hitting below the Mendoza line in 2015, Aguilar is third on the team in batting average (.314) and leads the team in home runs (6) … Aguilar has recorded at least one hit in all but 13 games this year … He also has recorded 30 hits in his last 24 games and has driven in 17 runs in his last 23 … Aggie has collected 72 hits this year, which is third on the team and seventh in the Conference of Champions … The senior leads the team in doubles with 18 and is tied for second in the Pac-12 … He also leads the team with 42 RBI, which is tied for eighth in the conference … Aguilar also knows how to deliver in the clutch as he is batting .357 with two outs, .301 with runners in scoring position and .316 with runners on base … Nine of his last 21 starts have come in left field as well and saw some time in centerfield as well. Seniorwas given the chance to be a regular in the lineup by head coachthis year, and he has done nothing to disappoint … After playing in just 26 games and hitting below the Mendoza line in 2015, Aguilar is third on the team in batting average (.314) and leads the team in home runs (6) … Aguilar has recorded at least one hit in all but 13 games this year … He also has recorded 30 hits in his last 24 games and has driven in 17 runs in his last 23 … Aggie has collected 72 hits this year, which is third on the team and seventh in the Conference of Champions … The senior leads the team in doubles with 18 and is tied for second in the Pac-12 … He also leads the team with 42 RBI, which is tied for eighth in the conference … Aguilar also knows how to deliver in the clutch as he is batting .357 with two outs, .301 with runners in scoring position and .316 with runners on base … Nine of his last 21 starts have come in left field as well and saw some time in centerfield as well.

A Balanced Attack: Arizona has 311 RBI as a team this season and Ryan Aguilar leads the way with 42 … The Wildcats have 10 players with at least 15 RBI, have nine with at least 18, eight with at least 23 and five with at least 32 … Cody Ramer , Zach Gibbons and Aguilar are all in the top seven in the Pac-12 in hits … Gibbons led the conference, Ramer had the second most and Aguilar finished with the seventh-most. Arizona has 311 RBI as a team this season andleads the way with 42 … The Wildcats have 10 players with at least 15 RBI, have nine with at least 18, eight with at least 23 and five with at least 32 …and Aguilar are all in the top seven in the Pac-12 in hits … Gibbons led the conference, Ramer had the second most and Aguilar finished with the seventh-most.

Hit 'em Up: Cody Ramer , Zach Gibbons and Ryan Aguilar all have at least 72 hits this season and JJ Matijevic has 62 … The last time four or more Wildcats had at least 62 hits in one season was back in 2013 when Brandon Dixon, Johnny Field, Trent Gilbert and Kevin Newman all had at least 73. Dixon led the way with 79 and was the Pac-12 Batting Champ. andall have at least 72 hits this season andhas 62 … The last time four or more Wildcats had at least 62 hits in one season was back in 2013 when Brandon Dixon, Johnny Field, Trent Gilbert andall had at least 73. Dixon led the way with 79 and was the Pac-12 Batting Champ.