Arizona softball swept Stanford at home over the weekend in a dominating fashion by putting up double-digit runs in each win. The series sweep moved the Wildcats to 37-12 overall and 12-6 in Pac-12 Conference play.
“This sweep was a must,” Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea said. “Stanford is pretty down right now, and I feel bad for them, but on the other hand, we knew this weekend we couldn’t afford to stumble.”
In the series opener, Arizona pitchers Trish Parks and Michelle Floyd combined for a one-hitter in an 11-0 run-rule victory in five innings.
Facing a depleted Stanford roster, the pair of hurlers had no trouble getting through the Cardinal’s lineup.
Floyd started the game for the Wildcats and took a no-hitter through the fourth before it was broken up. Parks relieved Floyd in the fifth inning and pitched a flawless final frame.
At the plate, the UA struck early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Then in the second, a two-run homer from outfielder Ashleigh Hughes brought the score up to 4-0. It was the first career home run for the freshman.
Arizona continued its scoring in the third inning when infielder Mo Mercado hit a two-run homer of her own. Later that inning, a two-run single from outfielder Katiyana Mauga increased the lead to 8-0.
In the fourth, catcher Chelsea Goodacre led off with a solo-shot, and outfielder Chelsea Suitos added on with another two-run single.
Game two of the series was a bit more competitive, but ended with the same result, a 10-2 Arizona victory.
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 advantage on an RBI single by Mauga. Then in the top of the second, Stanford answered with a run of its own to tie things up.
That was the closest the Cardinal would come, as Arizona responded in the bottom of the second with three runs to regain control.
After the Wildcats were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, they added on a pair in the fifth inning thanks to a two-run homer by Goodacre. The home run pushed the lead to 6-2.
Arizona closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run homer from infielder Kellie Fox followed by a walk-off RBI double from Mercado.
On the mound, Parks started the game and allowed two runs, one earned, over 2.1 innings. Siera Phillips relieved Parks in the third inning and did not allow a run for the rest of the game.
In the series finale Sunday, the Wildcats clobbered Stanford with 18 hits in a 22-5 victory. Infielder Hallie Wilson led the way with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Arizona opened up the scoring in the first inning when Goodacre hit a three-run homer.
Then in the second inning, the UA piled it on with 11 runs behind a three-run home run by Mercado as well as a pair of homers from Wilson.
“In batting practice, I was trying to get a bat that I felt responded well,” Wilson said. “I went to my bat that I used last year, and I guess it worked a little bit.”
Stanford responded with four runs in the top of the third, but that was about as much damage as the Cardinal could muster against Arizona’s pitching.
Floyd started the game on the mound and allowed three earned runs over two innings pitched. Parks then relieved Floyd in the third and gave up one run over the next 1.1 innings.
Phillips closed out the game and earned the win, moving her record to 4-0 on the year.
In the bottom of the third, Arizona expanded the lead to 18-4 on a three-run shot by outfielder Alexis Dotson, her first career homer.
Wilson added a grand slam in the fourth to give the Wildcats 22 runs, which tied for a season high.
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