Arizona softball drops two games to UCLA, first series loss since March

Nathanial Stenchever

April 29, 2024

University of Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe watches one of her players bat during the Pac-12 Softball Tournament on Thursday, May 11, at Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. Arizona lost the game against UCLA 4-3 and was eliminated from the tournament.

The No. 23 Arizona softball lost two games and the series to No. 8 UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif., from April 26-28.

Arizona now falls to 32-15-1, after losing game one 10-2 and game three 11-7. However, the ‘Cats did take game two winning 8-5. This is the Wildcats first series loss since the Stanford University game on March 30.

Day 1: Friday, April 26

Game 1: No. 23 Arizona vs. No. 8 UCLA at 7 p.m.

Arizona sent out Brook Mannon as the starting pitcher. Mannon would be taken out in the bottom of the second inning after giving up a run early in the game. Aissa Silva came in for her but she too would be replaced by Miranda Stoddard in the bottom of the second inning after giving up 4 runs. Stoddard finished the game for the Wildcats but the high powered UCLA offense scored 5 more runs on her before winning in the bottom of the fifth inning by an 8 run mercy rule.

Day 2: Saturday, April 27

Game 2: No. 23 Arizona vs. No. 8 UCLA at 5 p.m.

In the second game of the series Arizona once again sent out Mannon as the starting pitcher despite her taking the loss in game one. Game two was quiet at the start but the Wildcats jumped onto the scoreboard first, scoring 3 runs in the top of the third inning after an Allie Skaggs home run to right field. However, UCLA answered the Wildcats putting 4 runs on the board in the bottom of the third taking the lead. Emily Schepp answered in the top of the fourth tying the game with a solo home run to left center field. Arizona’s defense held the UCLA offense scoreless for the rest of the game while the Wildcats offense propelled them into the lead. A third home run by Dakota Kennedy, which scored 3 runs, and another hit by Skaggs sealed the game for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth. The Wildcats won 8-4 after quitting the UCLA offense.

Day 3: Sunday, April 28

Game 3: No. 23 Arizona vs. No. 8 UCLA at 2 p.m.

In the final game of the series where both teams had won and lost one game the Wildcats elected to send Silva out to the mound as the starting pitcher. With good defense early, the Wildcats gained the early lead after key hits drove in 3 runs in the first inning. Arizona’s Tayler Beihl added to that in the second inning with a solo home run to right center field, bringing the early lead to 4-0. Arizona continued the bombardment with another home run from Beihl, her second of the game and sixth of the season. After Beilh’s second home run brought the score to 7-0 Arizona on top. The UCLA Bruins, however, had had enough as their right fielder hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The single hit ignited the Bruins who scored 7 runs in the inning and forced the Wildcats to change pitcher from Silva to Mannon. With the Wildcats on their heels UCLA put up another 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth taking the lead late in the game 11-7. With no response from the Wildcat offense UCLA clinched the series and the come from behind win.

Looking ahead:

Arizona now comes home for a solo game against Grand Canyon University on Tuesday, April 30 at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. Arizona then will head to Stanford for the second time this season and for the final Pac-12 Tournament, which starts on May 8.

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