Arizona sophomore right-hander Smith Bailey was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after a dominant outing against Kansas State that helped his team avoid a series sweep. The performance came in a weekend where the Wildcats rebounded from two close losses to take the finale 11-7.

Bailey struck out a career-high 15 batters on Saturday night, allowing just one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings. He fanned 15 of the 21 batters he faced and at one point recorded seven consecutive strikeouts, a stretch that swung momentum firmly in Arizona’s favor.

Those 15 punchouts are the most by an Arizona pitcher in at least 15 years and fell just one short of the school mark for strikeouts in a conference game. Bailey’s outing also lowered his season ERA to 4.23, and he now leads the team with 58 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings pitched.

The Wildcats’ 11-7 win in the series finale featured contributions across the lineup and bullpen. Outfielder Andrew Cain hit a home run and delivered the go-ahead run, while Garrett Hicks worked three scoreless innings to pick up the victory. After the game, players including TJ Adams and Cash Brennan met with the media to discuss the team’s response and outlook.

Arizona enters the upcoming weekend with a 15-24 overall record and a 6-12 mark in Big 12 play. The Wildcats will host BYU in a three-game series Thursday through Saturday at Hi Corbett Field, looking to build on Bailey’s performance and gain ground in the conference standings.

During the Kansas State game, Bailey was captured celebrating after striking out the side in the sixth inning, a visible sign of the confidence he displayed on the mound as he powered through the Wildcats’ most impressive pitching performance in years.