The No. 13 University of Arizona softball team (43-10,17-7 Big 12) secured its final season series against the University of Houston (22-24,4-18 Big 12) in a swift 3-0 victory in Houston, Texas, at the Cougar Softball Stadium on Friday, May 2, to Sunday, May 4.
Day 1
Houston struck first with a solo home run in the second inning. The Wildcats took this personally and scored 10 unanswered runs, run-ruling the game in the fifth inning.
The third inning saw action with two stolen bases and a lead change for Arizona. Kaiah Altmeyer hit an RBI single and put Regan Shockey on third base. Altmeyer then stole second while Shockey sent herself home, stealing home base.
Extending the lead in the fourth inning was Miranda Stoddard with a solo home run and Dakota Kennedy with an RBI groundout, putting the Wildcats up 4-1 at the top of the fourth inning.
Sydney Stewart would launch a two-run home run, adding two more to the board before Kennedy would return to finish the game with a grand slam. Kennedy’s efforts would lift the Wildcats from a 6-1 lead to a 10-1 final score, sealing the win for the Wildcats
Stoddard got the win from the mound, pitching 4.2 innings before being relieved by Saya Swain. Arizona had a total of ten hits in the field, offsetting the six hits from Houston.
Day 2
Saturday was another shutout for the Wildcats as they sealed the win in the final inning, along with sealing their last Big 12 series.
Their total record for the Big 12 series is 6-2, losing only to the University of Central Florida and Texas Tech University.
Arizona’s scoring started in the fifth inning after a hit from Sniffen drove Stewart home on a sacrifice fly.
Stewart, who got a hit all three times she was at bat, came home on a throwing error. Taylor Biehl had an RBI single, and Sniffen returned, scoring a two-run home run for the Wildcats, leaving the final score 5-0 for the Wildcats.
These scoreless innings were brought to you by none other than future Bandit, Devyn Netz.
After allowing only two hits in all seven innings and striking out eight batters, Netz and the rest of the team would see her name called as the tenth pick in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Day 3
Arizona finished the regular season five runs ahead of Houston, sealing the win.
Arizona started hot, scoring five runs in the first inning. An RBI from Altmeyer, followed by a Stoddard grand slam, gave the Wildcats a huge early lead.
Houston responded with two runs of their own at the bottom of the first.
The third inning saw Stoddard come home from second base on a throwing error. The fourth saw Stewart score a solo home run. One last run from a fielder’s choice in the sixth gave Arizona 8 total runs.
Houston had one more score in the bottom of the seventh inning but was unable to upend the rout of the Wildcats, making the final score 8-3.
The Wildcats finish the regular season 43-10 and 17-7 in conference play.
Up Next
Arizona takes on the Big 12 tournament as the No. 2 seed. They will face the University of Central Florida on Thursday, May 8, at 5:00 p.m. in Oklahoma City at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park.
Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and Twitter/X
