Arizona Softball has a rough weekend despite stadium unveiling

Tucson, AZ- Opening the newly renovated Rita Hillenbrand Stadium, the Arizona Softball team (6-4) had a rough debut over the weekend.

It was an exciting weekend to open the newly renovated Rita Hillenbrand Stadium, or so it should have been. However, the Arizona Softball team fell a bit flat in the weekend of action, dropping some tough games at home.

Beginning the year 3-2 with a win over then No. 19 ranked Michigan, Arizona returned home to take on a tough home-slate of games. First up was South Florida.

Arizona Wildcats

Despite beating the Bulls just days ago, Arizona couldn’t quite reproduce that same magic in this games, as they dropped the game by a 4-1 final.

With senior Taylor McQuillin on the mound for the Cats, both teams started a bit slow, highlighted by solid pitching, but it was ultimately mistakes that doomed Arizona in this one.

Tied 0-0 to enter the sixth inning, the Bulls came to the plate, ready to unleash in a big inning.

After an error and a base on balls that put on another runner in the inning, USF would then score on another fielding error in the inning to put them up 1-0. A sacrifice fly would then make it 2-0, followed by a single and a double to make it 4-0 USF quickly.

Luckily, Arizona was able to escape the inning without much else, but the damage was already done.

The Cats were able to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth, when a solo shot by junior infielder Jessie Harper made it 4-1, however, it was too little too late as the Wildcats fell in this one by a 4-1 final.

The second game of the day was a bit different. Playing against Illinois-Chicago, the Wildcats dominated this one like they should!

Needing a huge start, the Wildcats got to quick work, scoring eight runs in the first inning to take control, and seemingly not look back. Arizona’s Alyssa Denham got the start for the Cats, and put together a tremendous performance to pace the Cats to a 10-1 win in five innings.

The junior threw three solid innings en route to her second win, giving up just one run on three hits. Arizona’s star freshman Marissa Schuld came on in relief to close the door on the Flames.

Harper was big for the Cats as well, going an impressive 2-3 from the plate with four RBI’s. Junior infielder Malia Martinez would also add three RBI’s of her own on a three-run homer in the first inning to make it 5-1 Arizona.

Heading into Saturday, the Cats would once again have a huge game in front of them, with No. 7 Alabama in town.

McQuillin would once again get the start for Arizona, but another error-filled game ultimately doomed the Wildcats in this one.

Alabama got to quick work here, as the Tide broke the scoreless tie in the second inning, when a single and walk put them up 2-0.

In the fourth inning, the Tide would strike again. This time on a fielding error that put them up 3-0.

Arizona was able to finally get a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning, when a few errors by Alabama gave the Wildcats a run in the inning to make it 3-1. However, that would be all the offense the Wildcats could muster as they dropped the first Saturday game by a 6-1 final.

With the loss, the Wildcats dropped to a very unfamiliar 4-4 record to start the year, with New Mexico still play on Saturday evening, and Cal State Fullerton on Sunday

Hoping to salvage the weekend, Arizona had to really get things going against the Lobos!

Denham would once again get the start for Arizona, as the junior would pitcher another three innings for the Cats, putting together a solid performance, that would ultimately result in her second win of the season!

Luckily Arizona would gets things going early offensively, exploding for four runs in the first inning, only to follow that up with a three-run second, and a seven-run third, en route to the 15-1 win.

With such a great offensive showing, it was junior infielder Reyna Carranco who would ultimately steal the show for the Wildcats, driving in six RBI’s, while going 2-2 from the plate in this one.

Junior catcher Deja Mulipola would also have a terrific game, going a perfect 3-3 from the batters box, while driving in three of Arizona’s 15 runs on the day.

Arizona’s last game of the weekend would come against Cal State Fullerton. Needing another big performance, the Wildcats got to work early again!

The offense came alive in the second inning, as Carranco singled to score two runs early to put the Cats in control.

Even though that’s all Arizona would really need to win this one, the Cats would plate two more runs in the fourth inning on Carranco and Harper doubles to put Arizona up 4-0. The Wildcats would add the two last insurance runs in the fifth inning when Alyssa Palomino got her fifth home run of the season to make it 6-0 Cats.

McQuillin would get the start for Arizona, pitching all, seven innings, holding the Titans to zero runs on three hits, while striking out four.

With the wins, the Wildcats improve to 6-4 on the year, but still have some tough tests ahead with Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State still looming.

Should the Wildcats be equipped and poised to make a deep run this year, they definitely need to play better against the better competition this year!

At Zona Zealots, we’re hopeful the Cats can turn it around. They have some good talent that just needs to find their rhythm! Bear Down, Arizona!