Arizona softball went on the road for the second time this season to compete in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
After a 3-2 performance the weekend before in the opening home tournament, Arizona played against some top-ranked schools such as No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Oklahoma in California.
Friday:
Thursday’s game against Missouri was cancelled due to inclement weather, so Arizona’s first game of the tournament was against No. 20 Oklahoma State on Friday evening. UA beat Oklahoma State by a score of 3-0 behind a strong outing from senior ace Taylor McQuillin, who struck out 10 in the first match of the Friday doubleheader.
To close out the Friday night action, the Wildcats competed against Long Beach State, winning in dominant fashion at 12-3. In the second game of the night, the Wildcats posted three separate four-run innings.
UA sophomore Hanah Bowen earned her first career save, as she pitched for the final three innings.
RELATED: Arizona softball splits double-header in re-opening of Hillenbrand
Saturday:
The Wildcats opened up play on Saturday with a match UC Santa Barbara, blowing past the Gauchos by a score of 9-1 (in five innings) to move up to 3-0 in tournament play. Three players on the Wildcat roster had doubles, including redshirt junior Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and juniors Dejah Mulipola and Malia Martinez.
Arizona’s second game of Saturday was against No. 4 Oklahoma. After starting out the tournament with three straight victories, everything was going in the right direction for the ‘Cats until the Sooners showed up.
In what was a battle of the pitchers, Oklahoma was able to squeak past Arizona by a score of 2-1. Arizona’s McQuillin and Oklahoma’s Giselle Juarez combined for only three base runners through the first five innings of the game. Juarez was able to end the nail-biter of a game with a final strikeout, bringing Arizona to 3-1 on the tournament.
Arizona’s last game of the Mary Nutter Classic was an exhibition against Team Japan, which happened to be Arizona’s third-straight match of Saturday. Prior to its match against Arizona, the Japanese National Team was undefeated during its American collegiate tour.
The game was scoreless for over half the night, but junior Dejah Mulipola hit a crucial home run to left field with two out in the bottom of the sixth to give UA a 1-0 lead that proved to be the only run scored by either team.
Arizona softball became the first American team to defeat Team Japan, who is looking to vie for the 2020 Olympics.
What’s Next:
After a 4-1 performance in Palm Springs, Ariz., moves to 9-5 on the season. The Wildcats return to action this Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. against Drake University at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson.
Follow Amit Syal on Twitter
