Softball: Statistical leaders for Arizona at halfway point of season

March 22, 2019

Caleb Villegas

Hannah Martinez (2) up at bat Saturday March. 16 in Tucson Ariz. In the Hillenbrand Stadium. Arizona softball run-rules Oregon.

After completing a sweep last weekend, No. 11 Arizona will head up to the beaver lodge at Oregon State this weekend for its first Pac-12 road series. Here are the three key stats Arizona should consider this weekend.

1.85 team ERA

Arizona has plenty of loaded guns just waiting to be fired with Taylor McQuillin, Gina Snyder, Marissa Schuld and Hannah Bowen as the team’s top four pitchers. McQuillin is considered the ace, leading the team in innings pitched (91), strikeouts (115), shutouts (5) and complete games (11). UA’s pitching staff has a total of 207 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.85. With a total of 178 innings pitched, Wildcat pitchers have allowed 118 hits and just 63 runs.

.594 team slugging percentage

It comes as no surprise that Arizona’s offense has been the key to their success this season. Already with 179 runs in the season, the UA is the only team with three players with 10 or more home runs this season. The “Hillenbrand Bombers” include Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, Dejah Mulipola and Jesse Harper. The leaders in slugging percentage are Palomino-Cardoza (.878) and Mulipola (.890), who each had three home runs against Oregon. The heart of the lineup includes Harper and Mulipola. Both righties have an impressive .352 and .354 batting average this season and have been the source of power, both tied for the leader in home runs with 13 each.

.328 team batting average

The Wildcats have six players who have a .310 or higher batting average this season. Leading the team is the second baseman Reyna Carranco, with a .452 average, who is having a remarkable season so far. Carranco is currently holding a 10-game hit streak, and her teammate Palomino-Cardoza is also at a 10-game hit streak.

The team’s recent success has been through the bottom part of the lineup, where Hannah Martinez and Jenna Kean have had impressive discipline at the plate. Kean hit a crucial home run that decided the series against Oregon.

The Wildcats are 21-7 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play, while the Beavers are 17-7 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play, with a two-game losing streak.

Follow Luis Aguirre on Twitter