Arizona softball opened up Pac-12 play in style, sweeping the Oregon Ducks at home last weekend at Hillenbrand Stadium. Here’s a rundown of the three games Arizona won in convincing fashion.
Game one
Behind four home runs, the Wildcats defeated the Ducks by a score of 8-0 in a mercy win victory (6 innings) to begin Pac-12 play for the 2019 season.
Everything was going right for the Wildcats right out of the gate. UA started out the game with a score of 3-0 by the bottom of the third inning. Dejah Mulipola kicked off the flood of points for the Wildcats with a deep bomb in the bottom of the second inning to give her own eleventh home run of the season.
RELATED: Softball sweeps double-header against Drake and Kent State
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza led the way for the Wildcats with two home runs in the game, putting her at nine home runs for a season total.
Five different members of the Arizona roster posted multi-hit games, including Rylee Pierce (3), Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza (2), Reyna Carranco (2), Dejah Mulipola (2) and Jenna Kean (2). The Wildcats accumulated the eight runs on thirteen total hits in the game, and senior pitcher Taylor McQuillin tossed her fifth shutout of the season.
Game two
On Saturday, Arizona sent one of their senior pitchers, Gina Snyder, to the mound, and she did not disappoint as she threw four innings, giving up just two hits, a walk and four strikeouts.
Arizona’s offense exploded right from the get-go. With two runners on base, Mulipola corked a three-run shot to right field which gave the ‘Cats an early lead. Mulipola again went deep in the bottom of the fourth to add to the lead and give her 13 homers on the year. Kean came up big in the same inning as she to hit a three-run shot to right field for her first dinger of the season.
For the mighty Ducks, no offense was shown as Snyder shut the door and earned her fourth win giving herself a 4-0 record with an ERA of 1.22. Marissa Schuld pitched one inning in relief gave up one hit, striking out one.
Arizona scored two more runs and went on to run rule the Ducks 8-0 for the second consecutive game.
Game three
With a sweep in the air on Sunday afternoon, Arizona hosted the conclusion of the three game series against the Pac-12 foe from the Northwest. Alyssa Denham took the mound for ‘Cats and she pitched 2.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits, striking out four and was replaced by McQuillin.
Arizona made a sweeping impression on Sunday, when it scored one run in the first inning, due to a double by Mulipola driving in Reyna Carranco from second who reached base extending her hit streak to 10 games.In the top of the third, Oregon finally broke out and scored its first run of the series due to an error made by Carranco at second. Following the error, the Ducks managed to score another run to take an early lead.
Palomino-Cardoza, tied up the ball game in the bottom half of the third with a solo shot to right field giving her a total of 10 home runs in the season and also extending her game hit streak to 10. Carranco followed with a double, then scored on another double hit by Malia Martinez to give the ‘Cats a one run lead.
In the fifth inning, Arizona tallied five runs coming on a fielder’s choice and a grand slam by Carranco, her second grand slam of the season, who had a great performance that afternoon going 3-4 with four RBI’s and a triple shy of the cycle.
In the top of the seventh, it looked like the Ducks were about to rally with two outs, but only managed to score one run. McQuillin shut the door for good, earning her ninth win of the season with a record of 9-5.
Follow Daily Wildcat Sports on Twitter
