The Arizona Wildcats and pitcher Kenzie Fowler started the season off on the right foot, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 4-0 Thursday night in Tempe.
“”We didn’t do anything great, and luckily we had stability on the mound,”” said Arizona head coach Mike Candrea. “”Kenzie (Fowler) took command of the game, and we scratched a few runs at the end.””
Fowler (1-0) kept the Hoosiers (0-1) off the base paths with a combination of strikeouts and defense. She faced 25 batters in the game and only allowed three hits. Twelve of her outs were recorded via the strikeout.
Indiana’s Lindsay Callanan was the victim of Fowler’s new pitching style as she struck out three times.
“”I thought (Fowler) threw very well,”” Candrea said. “”She had great command of her pitches, scattered three hits. I think only one ball was hit hard.””
Fowler began the game with five strikeouts in the first six batters she faced.
On the offensive side, six of the Wildcats (1-0) recorded a hit in their first game of the season. Catcher Stacie Chambers and designated hitter Lini Koria also recorded RBIs in the game. Chambers and third baseman Brigette Del Ponte each had doubles.
Both teams were a little rusty out in the field, recording multiple errors in the game — Arizona recorded two, while Indiana recorded three.
Sophomore Matte Haack got the start in short stop for the Wildcats, but recorded one the Wildcats’ errors and Del Ponte had the other error.
Candrea would not reveal who would start tomorrow or for the rest of the weekend. He said Haack’s status as the permanent starter is still in question.
“”Right now, she wasn’t really challenged a bunch, but we’ll see,”” Candrea said.
Arizona got on the board in the first inning when Chambers knocked in a run with an RBI double. The Wildcats, however, left the bases full in the inning. UA didn’t score again until the sixth inning and added the final two in the fourth.
Indiana’s Morgan Melloh, a transfer from Fresno State, gave up two earned runs. Melloh also struck out 12 batters in the game.
“”Facing a left-hander, she’s a pretty good little pitcher. With very average lighting, I knew it was going to be a tough game offensively,”” Candrea said. “”When someone strikes (Brittany) Lastrapes out twice, they’re pretty talented.””
The Wildcats will face Utah and Nebraska tomorrow in a double header. The Utes defeated Ole Miss yesterday 10-0 and the Cornhuskers run-ruled Portland State 11-2 in five innings. The Wildcats take on the Utah at 4:30 p.m. and then face Nebraska at 7 p.m.
