The No. 21 Arizona softball team won one out of four games during its first road trip of the season at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from March 1-3.
The Wildcats fell to No. 11 University of Alabama (2-1), (1-0), but defeated the University of Northern Iowa (9-3) and tied with the University of Southern Alabama (1-1). Alongside the four games, the Wildcats’ first game of the tournament was rained out.
Day 1: Friday, March 1
Game 1: No. 21 Arizona vs. No. 11 Alabama at 5:30 p.m.
On the first day of the tournament, the Wildcats played Alabama. Aissa Silva started in the circle for the Wildcats. After a swift top of the first inning, Silva gave up a 2-run home run. Silva was replaced by Miranda Stoddard, who closed out the game for the Wildcats. In the top of the second inning, the Wildcats responded with a solo home run from freshman Emily Schepp. Arizona and Alabama then engaged in a pitching duel that persisted for the remainder of the game. With neither team able to score more runs, the Wildcats took their first road loss of the season.
Day 2: Saturday, March 2
Game 2 and 3: No. 21 Arizona vs. No. 11 Alabama at 2:30 p.m. and Northern Iowa at 5 p.m.
The next day, the Wildcats played a doubleheader. In game one, Arizona faced Alabama once again. The Wildcats sent out freshman pitcher Brooke Mannon as the starting pitcher. As the game progressed, Arizona and Alabama once again engaged in a pitching duel. After loading the bases, Mannon was taken out of the game, and Stoddard was put in again. She managed to get out of the inning without giving up a run despite the bases being loaded. The 0-0 tie was finally broken after another Alabama solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the Wildcats’ high-powered offense unable to produce any runs against the strong Alabama defense, the Wildcats fell once again 1-0.
In game two of the day, the Wildcats faced Northern Iowa. Arizona sent out Silva as the starting pitcher for her tenth start of the season. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first inning after a key hit from Olivia DiNardo. The Wildcats continued where they left off in the top of the first, scoring 2 more runs in the top of the second inning. Arizona scored another run in the third inning. Northern Iowa did answer, scoring 1 run in the bottom of the second and third inning, but the Wildcats put the game away in the top of the fourth inning, scoring 4 runs on hits from Allie Skaggs, Paige Dimler and Carlie Scupin. After pitching four innings, Silva was credited with her ninth win of the season, helping the Wildcats to a 9-3 win.
Day 3: Sunday, March 3
Game 4: No. 21 Arizona vs. Southern Alabama at 9 a.m.
On the last day of the tournament, the Wildcats played Southern Alabama and sent out Stoddard as the starting pitcher. In another pitching duel, the Wildcats were able to get a run in the bottom of the third inning after Dakota Kennedy hit an RBI single. With Southern Alabama scoring late in the game, the Wildcats faced their third overtime game of the season. After 11 innings with the score locked at 1-1, the game was deemed a tie due to bad weather forcibly ending the game.
Looking ahead:
Arizona (17-2-1) heads to Louisville, Kentucky, where they will play two games at Ulmer Stadium. The first game is on Tuesday, March 5 against the University of Louisville, and the second is on Wednesday, March 6 against Miami University with both games being played at 3:30 p.m.
After last week’s games, Arizona has fallen to No. 24. However, in the upcoming matches this week, the team will have another opportunity to move back up in the national rankings.
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