Arizona Softball was swept in Oregon! What has happened?
The Arizona Softball team visited the No 3. Oregon Ducks this past weekend and not only were swept, but they were also spanked and run-ruled in two of the three games.
There is no argument that Coach Mike Candrea is one of the best coaches to ever grace the athletic department at the University of Arizona. We are lucky to have him and we will through at least 2022, but something is not right this year, and the disappointing finishes to the recent seasons are piling up.
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The Arizona Wildcats have won eight national titles. They were a hair away from their ninth in 2010, losing in the finals to UCLA who captured their 11th softball title that year. For decades, the Pac-10/12 dominated softball with the Wildcats and Bruins winning most of the titles. Even when neither of them won, other Pac-12 schools jumped in and took the title home. Arizona State won twice in the last ten years, and the Washington Huskies won in 2009. Those three teams had stellar pitching–Katie Burkhart and Dallas Escobedo for ASU and Danielle Lawrie for Washington.
Last year Arizona was loaded with pitching and hitters. The Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, Danielle O’Toole was dependable start after start, and also earned a few saves here and there. Couple that with prolific hitters like Katiyana Mauga, Mandie Perez, and Mo Mercado, Arizona had a clear path to Oklahoma City and the College World Series. That didn’t happen as Baylor won the Super Regional in Tucson. The Arizona hitters could not stay ahead of Baylor’s pitchers, and Baylor’s hitters accumulated timely hits which ended Arizona’s season. Plus they used the “pitch out” technique when the Cats big bats came to the plate.
Over the last several years, the Oregon Ducks have been ranked as high as No.1 many weeks and consistently in the top 20. They have been loading up on stellar pitchers. UCLA is always talented top to bottom. Arizona State was down for a couple of years, but this year sophomore Giselle Juarez is on fire and most nights in total command. The Washington Huskies tout their starter, Taran Alvelo, as possibly the best pitcher in the country.
Now for our team in Tucson. Many of our heavy hitters are gone, there is a lot of youth, Coach Candrea recently brought in Taryne Mowatt to coach the pitchers, Caitlin Lowe is providing a steady hand as an assistant coach, but the results so far in conference play have not been great. In no way do we want to appear unappreciative or that we know more than the best college coach in the country.
We ask you, the fans, what do you think is going on? Has Arizona lost its edge permanently or is this just a low spot? Are their team members who think that putting on the Red and Blue will buy them a win? Is there just too much parity now in the sport and we will have to expect some down years?
Sure, schools around the country are putting more money into their softball programs and facilities. There is a lot of talent, and the competition gets better and better. It may have only been time until other Pac-12 schools caught up to the high bar set by the University of Arizona and UCLA.
However, why is Arizona not getting these great pitchers? Why is Arizonan Giselle Juarez at ASU? How has ASU gotten as good or better than Arizona in softball? Of course, all great pitchers can’t attend one university. Take a look at the Oregon Ducks, though–both starters are extremely effective. To add fuel to the fire, not only did the Ducks’ pitching eat our hitters over the weekend, the Ducks’ hitters figured out Taylor McQuillin, and our pitchers never did figure out Megan Kleist. Why is that?
When Arizona and UCLA would spar in the glory days, the games were normally tight and competitive. One walk, one error, one solo home run may have been all that was needed to eek out a win. The three games in Oregon were not even competitive in comparison. Arizona lost 5-2, 8-0, and 10-0! We were run-ruled twice in one day and only scored two runs the entire weekend!
When the Wildcats played in Washington a few weeks ago, they were also swept. That series was more competitive, but the bats were pretty silent. Arizona pitchers did a better job than at Oregon. Or is it that Oregon figured out McQuillin better than Washington did? Or was McQuillin not as sharp? Or were Oregon’s hitters better than Washington’s? It doesn’t matter, Arizona was swept in both series, they didn’t even win one game in either road trip.
On April 20-22, Arizona visits ASU. In the past, we would expect a competitive series, with Arizona winning the series. Now it would be a successful road trip just to win a game, maybe the Saturday game when Juarez isn’t in the circle for the Sun Devils
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Whatever is ailing the Arizona Softball team, we hope they find a cure quickly. Coach Candrea seemed frustrated with the at-bats during the game Saturday. We fans felt his pain. Good luck to the team this weekend against the UCLA Bruins. If you’re in Tucson Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, catch a game and cheer the Wildcats to some victories which could likely turn the conference season around.