The Wildcat Invitational got off to a good start for the Arizona softball team as they beat South Dakota 9-1 in a five inning run-rule in their first game of the tournament.
Junior Taylor McQuillin took the mound for Arizona, and pitched the entire game, allowing one hit, and striking out nine.
“I think when I came out today, my pitches were a little bit flatter than I wanted them to be,” McQuillin said. “But you have to work with what you got, so we just kind of eliminated the pitches that were flat and tried to work with the pitches that were going good.”
The first batter up for the Wildcats, redshirt sophomore Alyssa Palomino, hit a solo shot to left, her sixth of the season, to give Arizona an ideal start. The next batter, sophomore Reyna Carranco, hit a double, before sophomore Jessie Harper hit a double of her own, scoring Carranco and giving the ‘Cats a 2-0 lead after one.
In the bottom of the 2nd, freshman Jenna Kean scored on an error committed by South Dakota’s third basemen, putting Arizona up 3-0.
In the top of the third, senior Emily Winckler hit a solo home run to center, cutting the Wildcats lead to two, before redshirt freshman Carli Campbell hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd, putting the Wildcats back up three runs, 4-1.
In the bottom of the 5th, sophomore Dejah Mulipola hit her fourth home run of the season, a deep solo shot to left, putting Arizona up 5-1. Later in the inning, junior Joelle Krist came in to pinch hit with two on, and hit an RBI single into right field. Then, Palomino hit a deep shot into straightaway center that hit the wall, scoring another run for the Wildcats, making it 7-1. After a run was walked in by the South Dakota pitcher, Mulipola ended the game with a two RBI double, making the final score 9-1 Wildcats.
“I like our offense, I think we have the capability of being a good offensive team, and putting up some runs,” head coach Mike Candrea said after the game.
Next up for Arizona is a doubleheader on Friday. First, at 1 p.m. against Wisconsin, and then at 3 p.m. against San Diego.
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