Arizona Softball extends winning streak, sweeping GCU

PHOENIX, AZ- Arizona Softball (35-7, 12-0) continued their dominance this weekend, extending their winning streak to 17 games with a sweep of GCU.

Arizona is softball country! If you haven’t been following the Arizona Softball team this year so far, well, you’re definitely missing out!

The Wildcats have been on a terror of late, and entering the weekend, all of it was on that was on the line, with Arizona riding a 14-game winning streak.

Arizona Wildcats

Starting the series on Friday in Phoenix against GCU, Arizona’s Taylor McQuillin took to the mound, ready to roll, hoping to continue her dominance.

It was slow from the start, as it took a while before Arizona’s offense got going. Hey, better late than never! Tied 0-0 heading into the fifth inning, first baseman Rylee Pierce was the one to finally jump start the offense, when she blasted a solo shot to make it 1-0, Cats!

The very next inning, Arizona would open the flood gates in this one, scoring fives runs and putting this one away for good as they paced themselves to the 6-0 win!

McQuillin would pick up her 15th win on the year, surrendering just one hit and striking out 10, helping to pace the Wildcats to the win.

Game two of the double-header began with Alyssa Denham taking the mound.

Perhaps a bit tapped offensively, this one was definitely more of a defensive game. Both teams had opportunities, but couldn’t put much together offensively.

Then, finally a breakthrough! With runners on and two outs, Reyna Carranco would single up the middle in the eighth inning to drive in two RBI’s to break the scoreless tie!

That’s when Denham would close the door for good on the Lopes, sitting GCU’s batters down in order and finishing the game with the 2-0. Denham would pitch in all eight innings, surrendering just two hits, picking up her 10th win on the year!

With the series already in hand, the Wildcats would turn to Hanah Bowen in this one to hopefully help deliver the sweep over GCU.

The Lopes were the ones to strike first, scoring in the first inning, but luckily that’s all they would get.

Trailing 1-0, Arizona would finally find their rhythm in the third inning, when Jessie Harper would double to right to tie this one at 1-1.

Two innings later, the Wildcats would unload offensively! First it was Dejah Mulipola homering on a two-run blast to make it 3-1. Just a couple pitches later, it was Malia Martinez who would join the home run party, sending a blast to make it 4-1.

Then in the sixth inning with the game easily in hand, Carranco got herself involved offensively, sending a hard hit double to left, that would score two runs, putting Arizona up 6-1 in this one!

The Wildcats would add two more runs in the seventh inning to put this one away for good, finishing the game with the 8-1 victory!

With the win, Bowen picked up her third win on the season, improving to 3-0. Arizona also improves to 35-7 on the year, and will have a few days off, before picking up Pac-12 play again against Stanford (30-7, 7-2) on Thursday.

At Zona Zealots, we’re proud of how our Cats competed an have been amazed at their play as of late! We hope they can keep the momentum going! Bear Down, Arizona!