SCOTTSDALE — Emilio Corona raced around third base and slid head-first across the plate to score the winning run for Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game.
What was he thinking as he popped up and raised his arms in the air?
“We did it again,†Corona said.
They sure did.
The Cardiac Cats were at it again Saturday night. Arizona rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat USC 4-3 in front of a lively crowd of 3,813 at Scottsdale Stadium. It was the UA’s eighth walk-off win of the season.

The Wildcats swarm Tommy Splaine (20) after his single drove home pinch runner Emilio Corona for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 win over USC in the championship game in the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball tournament in Scottsdale.
The Wildcats became first-time winners in the third and final Pac-12 Tournament. Paired with their regular-season title, they will merit serious consideration for one of the 16 host spots in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Tommy Splaine delivered the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth, driving in pinch runner Corona, who had stolen second during the previous at-bat.
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“It means a lot,†said Splaine, who struggled to find his swing for much of the season. “I just really wanted to pull through for this team. We all love each other. That was just the big thing. Just really playing for the team.â€

Arizona’s Tommy Splaine is soaked after getting a water cooler dumped on him during his postgame TV interview following the Wildcats’ walk-off win over USC to win the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament Championship Saturday night in Scottsdale.
USC had won nine in a row and was in position to steal an NCAA bid with a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. Arizona then mounted yet another rally.
The Wildcats ended up winning by the exact same score in almost the exact same fashion as last Saturday’s walk-off against Oregon State to clinch the regular-season crown. They even wore the same uniform combination and had the same starting pitcher, Cam Walty, on the mound.
“This was really scary early,†UA coach Chip Hale said. “The at-bats were not great. The defense was not great. We stuck with it. Again, it's all predicated on our starting pitching. When those guys keep us in the game, we'll have a chance.â€
The lineup struggled against USC starter Caden Aoki, who baffled the Wildcats with an array of curveballs and changeups. Arizona didn’t register a hit until the seventh inning.
That hit, a single by tournament MVP Mason White, led to Arizona’s first run. Maddox Mihalakis drew a 10-pitch walk, and White advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on Blake McDonald’s sacrifice fly to left off reliever Xavier Martinez.

Arizona’s Andrew Cain (3) charges back to the scrum after the Wildcats scored the winning run against USC in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
Arizona tied it in the bottom of the eighth. Splaine led off with a single, advanced to second on Richie Morales’ walk and scored on Brendan Summerhill’s single. Morales advanced to third on the play and scored on Garen Caulfield’s sacrifice fly to center.
Walty yielded more hard contact than usual, especially in the early innings, but he didn’t get much help from his defense.
After a one-out hit-by-pitch in the top of the third, first baseman Splaine couldn’t handle a spinning grounder. With runners on first and third, USC’s Ryan Jackson launched a ball to deep center field that Summerhill had trouble tracking. It landed over his head for an RBI double.
Right fielder Easton Breyfogle kept the score at 1-0 by making a running catch on the track in right-center to rob Kevin Takeuchi of an extra-base hit. Breyfogle then ran into his own defensive troubles.
Breyfogle misjudged two flyballs in the fourth, resulting in back-to-back triples for Ethan Hedges and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. The next hitter, Brayden Dowd, doubled to right-center to make it 3-0.

Arizona starter Cam Walty yells to his teammates after getting a strikeout against USC in the championship game of the 2024 Pac 12 Baseball Tournament.
Per usual, though, Walty gave his team a chance to win. Those three runs were all he allowed in eight innings.
“Defense wins championships,†said Splaine, who had two of Arizona’s five hits and received a Powerade shower from his teammates during a postgame interview. “Our pitching’s been nails all year. ... Walty just does what he does. He did it last Saturday as well. We have full trust in him and honestly every other pitcher behind him.â€
Anthony “Tonko†Susac pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, setting up the dramatic finish.
McDonald reached via a one-out single off USC closer Josh Blum. Corona, who’s been limited to pinch-running because of a hand injury, came in for McDonald and stole second on the first pitch to Andrew Cain. Trojans coach Andy Stankiewicz elected to walk Cain to set up a right-on-right matchup with Splaine and a potential double play.
Splaine ripped a 2-1 slider into left. Carson Wells, younger brother of former UA star Austin Wells, made a strong throw to the plate. But it pulled catcher Jacob Galloway slightly toward first base, allowing Corona to beat his lunging tag.

Arizona pinch runner Emilio Corona just beats the throw to USC catcher Jacob Galloway to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.
So ended the Pac-12 Tournament and the conference as we’ve come to know it.
“What a great finish to the Pac-12, not only the baseball season but basically the sports history for this conference, whatever team wins,†Hale said.
“It's a sad deal that we're not going to be a Pac-12 Conference anymore,†he added. “But hey, we take ourselves into the Big 12 now.â€
First comes the NCAA Tournament. The 16 hosts will be revealed at 5:30 p.m. Arizona time Sunday. The full field will be revealed Monday morning.
“We’re a great team. We love each other. You see what we can do. We’re a fun team to watch,†Splaine said. “I think we can do a lot of damage in the postseason.â€

Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) holds the tournament MVP trophy after the Wildcats’ defeated USC 4-3 on May 25 in Scottsdale.
Inside pitch
• In addition to White, Summerhill and pitcher Clark Candiotti made the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team.
• White became the second Wildcat in as many years to be named tournament MVP, following outfielder Chase Davis.
• Walty has not allowed a walk in his past two appearances, covering 16⅓ innings.
Photos: Arizona walks off USC 4-3 for the last Pac 12 baseball tournament championship

The Wildcats swarm Tommy Splaine (20) after his single drove home pinch runner Emilio Corona for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 win over USC in the championship game in the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball tournament in Scottsdale.

Arizona pinch runner Emilio Corona just beats the throw to USC catcher Jacob Galloway to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.

The Arizona Wildcats hoist the last Pac 12 Baseball Tournament trophy after coming from behind to win 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday over USC at Scottsdale Stadium. Arizona won the conference’s regular season and tournament crowns in the final year of the league’s 12-team era.

Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) runs down a grinder from USC’s Jacob Galloway (40) in the first inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona right fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) gets to a shot to the fence from USC ’s Kevin Takeuchi (8) and save a run in the third inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona right fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) can’t get to smash to the fence from USC’s Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (27) that went for an RBI triple in the fourth inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

USC runner Carson Wells, left, can’t twist away from the tag by Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield after trying to get to second on a deep fly ball to left in the seventh inning of the Pac-12 Tournament championship game on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) tracks deep into the second base side to snare a hopper from USC’s Jacob Galloway (40) in the seventh inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona starter Cam Walty yells to his teammates after getting a strikeout against USC in the championship game of the 2024 Pac 12 Baseball Tournament.

Arizona second base man Garen Caulfield (1) leaps for a drive to his left to retire USC’s Dean Carpentier (6) to end the Trojans half of the ninth inning in the Pac 12 baseball tournament final, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill runs toward the crowd as the Wildcats celebrate their walk-off win over USC for the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona coach Chip Hale hugs shortstop Mason White following the Wildcats’ win over USC in the championship game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale. White was named tournament MVP.

Arizona’s Tommy Splaine is soaked after getting a water cooler dumped on him during his postgame TV interview following the Wildcats’ walk-off win over USC to win the 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament Championship Saturday night in Scottsdale.

The grounds crew stencils the Pac 12 logo behind the mound ahead of the last game for the tournament — and for the league as a whole during its most recent 12-team era — just before Arizona faced USC in the championship game in the conference's 2024 bseball tournament Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium.

Arizona’s Garen Caulfield sits in the home-team dugout just before the Wildcats head out to face USC in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament final on Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium. The game was the last ever for the conference.

Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill watches his RBI single shoot into the outfield and get the Wildcats to 3-2 in the eighth inning against USC in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona pitcher Bradon Zastrow sports the banana rally cap as the Wildcats chip away at USC’s lead in the eighth inning of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.

Arizona pinch runner Richie Morales (7) flies by USC catcher Jacob Galloway (40) with the tying run on a sac from by Garen Caulfield (1) eighth inning of their championship game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 25, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona’s Garen Caulfield gestures to the dugout after getting a sacrifice fly to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth against USC in the championship game of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on May 25 in Scottsdale.

USC shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, left, and Arizona pinch runner Emilio Corona look for the call after Corona swiped second to get in scoring position with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the championship game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona shortstop Mason White (24) holds the tournament MVP trophy after the Wildcats’ defeated USC 4-3 on May 25 in Scottsdale.

Arizona’s Andrew Cain (3) charges back to the scrum after the Wildcats scored the winning run against USC in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
Photos: Arizona cruises into the final Pac-12 tournament final with a 6-3 win over Stanford

Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill gets doused in the dugout as the Wildcats celebrate his three-run homer in the third inning against Stanford in a semifinal game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on May 24 in Scottsdale.

Arizona starter Clark Candiotti yells after getting a strikeout to end the Stanford half of the seventh inning and strand two during their semifinal game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona right fielder Easton Breyfogle (12) runs down a shot up the line by Stanford’s Temo Becerra (2) in the second inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona runner Tommy Splaine, right, dives in for a triple as the ball skips by Stanford third baseman Temo Becerra during Friday’s Pac-12 Baseball Tournament semifinal in Scottsdale.

Arizona’s Maddox Mihalakis (33) slides in just before the throw reaches Stanford third baseman Jimmy Nati (6) for a leadoff triple in the fourth inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) lines up a hopper from Stanford first batter Brandon Larson (16) in the fifth inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona batter Mason White (24) watches his single shoot into left center against Stanford in the sixth inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona third baseman Maddox Mihalakis (33) charges a short chopper by Stanford’s Brandon Larson (16) that ended up an RBI fielder’s choice in the seventh inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) turns the pivot over Stanford’s Charlie Saum (21) but can’t get the second out, as the Cardinal score their first run of the night in the seventh inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona third baseman Maddox Mihalakis (33) comes in to scoop up a bouncing ball in the grass by Stanford’s Jimmy Nati (6) that plated a run in the eighth inning of their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stanford shortstop Temo Becerra, left, completes the inning-ending double play over Arizona’s Emilio Corona in the Wildcat half of the eighth in their semifinal game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament Friday in Scottsdale.

Arizona second baseman Garen Caulfield, right gets in a race to the bag with Stanford runner Owen Cobb on a fielder's choice in the ninth inning of their semifinal game in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Scottsdale. The play was reviewed, Cobb was ruled as the third Cardinal out, icing the Wildcats' 6-3 win.

Arizona left fielder Brandon Rogers (8) settles under lazy fly ball from Stanford batter Champ Hampton (15) to get the Wildcats out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning in their semifinal game in the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Wildcats yell at starter Clark Candiotti as he does a postgame interview after Arizona's 6-3 win over Stanford in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Scottsdale.

Arizona’s Easton Breyfogle (12) loosens up in the home dugout as the Wildcats get ready to face Stanford in the semifinal’s of the Pac 12 baseball tournament, May 24, 2024, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Arizona starting pitcher Clark Candiotti does his pregame workout against the centerfield fence just before the Wildcats took on Stanford in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Friday at Scottsdale Stadium.