UA pitcher Taryne Mowatt made absolutely sure that No. 6 Arizona’s first ever loss to No. 9 ASU at Hillenbrand Stadium didn’t come with her on the mound.
The junior hurler was phenomenal in the Wildcats’ two wins over the Sun Devils this weekend, following up a no-hitter in Arizona’s 1-0 victory Friday night with a complete-game two-hitter in another 1-0 win over the Sun Devils on Saturday.
“”My biggest celebration this weekend has been Taryne,”” said UA head coach Mike Candrea. “”I think Taryne really came into her own and threw what we needed to win games like that. To win a 1-0 game, you have to have (great) performances on the mound.””
The Wildcats (28-8, 4-1) are now 26-0 against the Sun Devils at home since Hillenbrand Stadium opened in 1993.
Mowatt (21-7) struck out 21 while allowing only one walk in the two wins. ASU pitcher Katie Burkhart (18-8) was nearly as dominant, allowing just one unearned run in each game.
Saturday’s game, nationally televised on ESPN2, drew 2,540 fans, most of whom wore red as part of the organized “”Rivalry Red-Out.””
“”The atmosphere was amazing, the fans were loud and they were into the game, and I think it got us pumped up as a team,”” Mowatt said. “”Offensively we were swinging the bats well, and defensively we were making great plays, and I think the atmosphere just made us come together.””
With nothing but zeros on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning Saturday, Arizona managed to bring a run home without recording a hit.
Catcher Callista Balko drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. One out later Balko was still at second when first baseman Sam Banister laid down a sacrifice bunt that Burkhart fielded cleanly, but her throw to first was off-target, giving Arizona runners at the corners.
Then, with Balko running on contact, freshman K’Lee Arredondo chopped a ground ball to ASU first baseman Ashley Muenz, who tried to throw out Balko at home. Balko slid under a tag at the plate, and Arizona took a one-run lead that proved to be more than enough cushion with Mowatt on the mound.
UA individual
no-hitters (career)
Alicia Hollowell 17
Jennie Finch 7
Susie Parra 7
Becky Lemke 6
Debby Day 6
Nancy Evans 5
Taryne Mowatt 4
Mowatt was perfect through three innings, striking out five of nine batters, but outfielder Kaitlin Cochran – ASU’s leading hitter – registered the Sun Devils’ first hit of the weekend when she lined a double to the right-field gap with one out in the fourth.
The next batter, third baseman Bianca Cruz, hit a sharp line drive that was caught by Banister, who then turned and fired the ball to second base to double up Cochran and end the inning.
In the fifth inning, center fielder Caitlin Lowe saved extra bases when she made a spectacular catch on a hard-hit ball by Muenz. The senior made a leaping grab while in full sprint toward the outfield wall.
“”It was absolutely amazing. She always does that for me,”” Mowatt said. “”She’s always out there running hard, and she’s made a million plays like that for me.””
Lowe wasn’t concerned about the risks of running full-speed into a wall.
“”I look back every pitch just to know where the wall is, so I knew where I was and I knew I had a bead on it, and if it didn’t get over the fence, I was going to be able to catch it,”” Lowe said.
Friday night also featured a pitcher’s duel, as both Mowatt and Burkhart took shutouts into the final frame.
Packed House
“”Hillenbrand Stadium was rocking this weekend thanks to the two largest crowds of the year.
Friday’s game against No. 9 ASU drew 2,729, the 13th largest crowd in Hillenbrand history and the most spectators at home since 3,541 came out to see Arizona play the USA National Team in 2004. Saturday’s game, which was televised on ESPN2, had an announced attendance of 2,540. The stadium has a capacity of 2,956.””
– Arizona Daily Wildcat
Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, UA shortstop Kristie Fox drove in pinch runner Jill Malina for a walk-off 1-0 victory. It was the third-consecutive game that Fox provided the game-winning hit.
Mowatt recorded her first no-hitter against Pac-10 competition, striking out 11 Sun Devils and allowing just one walk.
She took a perfect game into the sixth inning before her throwing error gave the Sun Devils their first baserunner.
Burkhart was nearly Mowatt’s equal, striking out 12 Wildcats while allowing five hits and two walks.
Lowe had two hits in the contest and stole two bases as well. She also reached twice by inducing ASU into throwing errors with her speed.
Two wins over a rival ranked in the top 10 was important for the Wildcats, but the story of the weekend was Mowatt.
Even Lowe, a three-time All-American who has seen it all, was at a loss for words.
“”I can’t even say enough about Taryne right now,”” Lowe said. “”She gave up what, two hits in the past two games? That is ridiculous against such a great hitting team.
“”She just did amazing this weekend.””
