The Arizona Wildcats faced their first big test of the new season on Saturday, playing against their first ranked opponent of the year, defeating the No. 21 ranked Baylor Bears 4-0, and then followed up their shutout with a 11-3 win over Northwestern to remain undefeated for the season at 4-0.
Arizona and Baylor both got off to slow starts to begin the game, with neither team being able to score. Senior Mo Mercado got a hit in the 2nd inning to extend her hitting streak to 14 games, but the Wildcats were still unable to put themselves on the scoreboard.
The Wildcats used their defense to keep the game close, as pitcher Danielle O’Toole held Baylor scoreless, marking twenty straight scoreless innings for Arizona pitchers.
In the fourth inning, senior Katiyana Mauga gave the Wildcats a much-needed spark by hitting her 69th career home run to give her team a 1-0 lead.
In the 6th inning, Arizona’s offense came to life, as freshman Dejah Mulipola hit her first career home run to extended the lead to 3-0. Senior Eva Watson capped off the victory by scoring on an infield single from second base to give Arizona a 4-0 lead, completing the shutout and giving Arizona their biggest win of the young season.
O’Toole completed the game, shutting out the Bears, making it her 10th as a Wildcat.
Arizona Carried their momentum into the game against Northwestern, especially offensively.
In the 1st inning, Katiyana Mauga once again put Arizona on the scoreboard, hitting her 70th career home run while giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. By the beginning of the third inning, Arizona led 7-0.
In the top of the 3rd, pitcher Taylor McQuilin gave up a home run to Northwestern, breaking the Arizona streak of scoreless innings. After the home run, pitcher Nancy Bowling checked in for McQuilin as the defense began to round back into form.
Arizona stayed scoreless in the 3rd inning before Mauga once again stepped onto the field and gave the Wildcats a boost. Mauga and Statman both hit doubles to extended the lead to 9-1. Freshman Alyssa Palomino put the finishing touches on the game, hitting a double with the bases loaded to end the game in the 5th inning with a final score of 11-3.
With the two wins, the Wildcats remained undefeated on the season. Up next is a home game against Tulsa at 12 p.m. MST to wrap up the Hillenbrand Invitational.
