Arizona Softball drops three of four to rival ASU

TEMPE, AZ – It wasn’t the best weekend for Arizona Softball (27-8, 6-5), as the Wildcats dropped three of four to the rival ASU Sun Devils. 

Coming into the weekend action with a big matchup against ASU Looming, the Arizona Softball took to the pitch looking to continue their winning ways but unfortunately came up short to the Devils.

Game 1:  

Arizona Wildcats

Things started poorly for the Wildcats as the Devils came out swinging (literally) in the first few innings, taking a 3-0 lead after three.

Arizona would respond with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, to close the gap, but ASU would respond in the fourth with a solo home run from Bella Loomis to make it 4-2.

The Wildcats would pick up a run in the sixth inning to make it 4-3, but unfortunately were unable to manufacture any runs after that, falling 4-3.

Alyssa Palomino-Cardozza would have a scary moment at the end of the game, as the senior laced a ball in the infield and injured herself running to first. She would be helped off the field, but as a result, she did not appear in any of the other games for the Wildcats.

Game 2:

It was an ugly one for Arizona in this one. Running into pitching troubles again, Arizona fell behind early and never recovered. ASU came out strong, plating two runs in the first, two runs in the third, and four runs in the fifth.

The usually potent Wildcat offense was quiet, as the bats were silenced by ASU’s pitching. Arizona would pick up a run in the top of the third with a Jessie Harper single that brought in Reyna Carranco, but that would be all for Arizona here.

Wildcats would be outdueled and outhit, falling 8-1 and using two different pitchers. As a result, the Devils would pick up the three-game series win.

Game 3: 

Needing a big response from the Cats in game three, Arizona would finally get one in the second game of the double-header on Saturday.

Bringing the bats for the first time this series, Arizona would explode for two runs in the first, five runs in the third inning, seven runs in the fourth inning, and another in the fifth to lead 15-0.

ASU would get on the board in the fifth inning, using a couple of timely hits to break up the no-hitter and shutout. However, it wasn’t enough, as this one ended in five innings with a run-rule from the Wildcats.

Alyssa Denham would finish the day with a dominant pitching performance, holding the Devils to one run on two hits.

Game 4: 

Finishing the weekend off with a non-conference matchup against ASU, Arizona would turn to redshirt junior Hanah Bowen in this one.

The Sun Devils would get things rolling early, plating two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Arizona would respond two innings later when Malia Martinez homered to left field, tying the game at 2-2.

ASU would respond with a solo shot of their own in their next at-bat, putting them out front again at 3-2.

The Wildcats would respond again, scoring in the top of the seventh when Dejah Mulipola doubled to right field, scoring Carranco, eventually sending this one into extra innings. However, this one wouldn’t last long as ASU responded in the bottom of the eighth, using a couple of timely hits to walk this one off.

With the losses from the Wildcats, Arizona drops the conference series matchup as well as the non-conference matchup, also surrendering a full point in the Territorial Cup Series.

Now 27-8 (6-5) on the season, Arizona will return to action next weekend when they welcome Utah for a four-game series.