The No. 25 Arizona softball team won its three-game home series against the No. 20 University of Oregon for its first top-25 series win of the season.
Arizona 28-13-1 (9-9 in Pac-12) won game one (7-5) and game three (3-2) to knock off Oregon 24-15 (10-7 in Pac-12). The Wildcats took down the Ducks with 12 runs on 28 hits, 3 of which were home runs by Olivia DiNardo and Carlie Scupin.
Day 1: Friday, April 12
Game 1: No. 25 Arizona vs. No. 20 Oregon at 5 p.m.
For the first time since the trip to Alabama on March 1, Arizona started Brooke Mannon at pitcher. The freshman, Mannon, had suffered a small injury during the Crimson Classic that forced her to sit out for a little over a month of play. She didn’t show any problems in her first start back pitching the first two innings for the Wildcats giving up no runs on no hits before Aissa Silva took over in the circle in the top of the third inning. Arizona was the first to score in Friday’s game in the bottom of the third inning. Scupin and DiNardo both hit 2-run home runs to get the Wildcats the early lead 4-0.
The Ducks, however, hit a 2-run home run of their own in the top of the fourth, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 2 runs. The Wildcats’ offense couldn’t be stopped, and after forcing a Ducks pitching change, they scored 2 more runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth. Tayler Biehl got a leadoff triple in the bottom of the fifth, where she would score on the next ground ball.
Biehl reached third; however, because the Ducks’ center fielder, Hanna Delgado, dove into the right-center field wall as she tried to catch the flyball. Delgado dropped the ball and injured herself from the impact. The medical crews at the stadium wheeled her off the field and into an ambulance where she was taken to Banner Medical for evaluation.
Arizona was able to close out the game despite giving up 3 runs in the top of the sixth inning, to defeat Oregon 7-5 in game one.
Day 2: Saturday, April 13
Game 2: No. 25 Arizona vs. No. 20 Oregon at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, Arizona sent out veteran pitcher Miranda Stoddard as the starting pitcher. Stoddard was taken out in the second inning after giving up 3 runs. She would be replaced by Ali Blanchard who gave up 2 runs and was replaced by Silva in the third.
The Wildcats gave up an early lead to the, giving up 5 runs in the first two innings. Arizona answered after the first inning, scoring 2 runs. A pitching duel ensued for the rest of the game with neither team able to score. After seven innings Arizona fell 5-2, losing game two of the series.
Day 3: Sunday, April 14
Game 3: No. 25 Arizona vs. No. 20 Oregon at noon
Sunday brought the final game of the series with both teams having won one. The Wildcats sent out Mannon again for the start, and like game one, they changed her out after the second inning for Silva who finished the game with 80 pitches and two strikeouts.
Oregon took the early lead in the final game, scoring one in the first inning after center fielder Regan Shockey missed a ball in center field. The Wildcats did not let it affect them, though, as they came back in the bottom of the first and scored one of their own, tying the game. After a quick second inning, Arizona again scored another run in the bottom of the third inning after DiNardo hit her second home run of the series, helping the Wildcats take their first lead of the day 2-1. The game turned into a pitching battle for the next three and a half innings as both teams were unable to score any runs. The Ducks finally broke the duel with a solo home run to center field in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game at 2 all.
The Wildcats were not able to score in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the game to extra innings. Arizona held the Ducks scoreless in the top of the eighth, opening the door for the Wildcats to win in the bottom of the inning. Arizona was able to load the bases with one out and with a high chopping ball from the bat of Jasmine Perezchica, the final run would slide by the catcher for the winning run. After a short review, the run would be upheld and Arizona would win 3-2 after eight innings.
Silva would get the win for the Wildcats, putting her personal record at 18-4 on the season, the highest on the team and one of the highest in the Pac-12 Conference.
Looking ahead:
The Wildcats will be back at Hillenbrand Stadium next weekend starting Friday, April 19, until Sunday, April 21, when they play ASU. The SunDevils sit in last place of the conference with an 18-21 season record and a 2-13 conference record.
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