Arizona Softball back where they belong at the Women’s College World Series!

The Arizona Softball team took full advantage of having home field advantage, advancing to the Women’s College World Series!

Back to Oklahoma City! After a nine year absence, the Arizona Softball team is heading back to the Women’s World College World Series in Oklahoma City. The Wildcats have made it all the way to the Super Regionals eight of the last nine seasons, but were unable to get back to the promised land until now with a sweep of Ole Miss!

When you think of Wildcat softball you think of championships. The way they have played in the NCAA Tournament, they are playing as a team on a mission to win another title. Having not loss a game, the Wildcats will look to continue their winnings way as they faced No.3 ranked Washington Huskies in Oklahoma City, who they loss all three games to during Pac-12 play.

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In the first game of the Super Regional, a combination of solid pitching by Taylor McQuillin, the Wildcats executing the short game to perfection and getting timely hitting, led to a 5-2 win. McQuillin pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits and had nine strikeouts. She ended up with 127 pitches, but that didn’t stop the senior from helping her team secure the victory.

Both teams trading blows, in the first two innings, before the Wildcats put up two runs in the fourth , one in the fifth and never looked back.  Malia Martinez led all Wildcats going 4-4 with 2 RBIs. Alyssa Palimon-Cardoza also help drive in runs with 2 RBIs and going 2-3. Known for hitting home runs, the Wildcats didn’t have a single one in Game One, but that didn’t matter as they went up 1-0, in the best of three series.

In game two, the Wildcats got out early with a Dejah Mulipoa home run in the top of the 2nd giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Having been in a slump of late, she helped the Wildcats relieve some of that pressure of being in another close out Super Regional game. Then Alyssa Denham showed up!

In the bottom of the 2nd, bases loaded and no outs Denham stepped up in huge way! She would strikeout two in a row and force a ground out, stranding three runners – are you serious?! That was a big momentum changer the Wildcats needed. Was this going to be the year?

Like Game one, Ole Miss would tie things up with a solo home run in the third inning. In fourth inning the Wildcats offense came alive. Pac-12 hitting leader Reyna Carranco would drive in Martinez and and then Hannah Brown singled to left gets two Wildcats across the plate, Cats up 4-1. Not done yet! Martinez hit the second home run in the game for the Wildcats, giving her team a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning.

Defense wins championships. The Wildcats in the fifth and six inning came up with some huge defensive stops, including Jessie Harper who had some incredible plays at shortstop and throw out at home to prevent Ole Miss from putting anymore runs on the board.

It’s outta here! In the top of the 7th Palomino-Cardoza hit a two-run homer to give the Wildcats a 7-1 lead. This team continued to pour it on, with a single by Rylee Pierece and another hit by Carranco, giving the Wildcats a 9-1 lead. Denham closed things out in the bottom of the 7th and the Wildcats, finishing the game allowing one run, on six hits, 16 groundouts and four strikeouts.

Wildcats sweep Ole Miss and earn a spot in the Women’s College World Series. This would be the Wildcats 23rd appearance, wow! Having home field advantage helped. It allowed them to understand how the field plays and used that knowledge to help propel them onto Oklahoma City! Plus not forget the awesome fan base this program fans. Way to show up Wildcat fans!

https://twitter.com/ArizonaSoftball/status/1132469280946049024

At Zona Zeaots, we would like to congratulate Arizona Softball on getting back to where they belong, the Women’s College World Series! Up next for this team is the Huskies. Lets keep this going ladies! As always, Bear Down Arizona!