Arizona Softball, Hanah Bowen delivers huge win over MSU

STARKVILLE, MS – Opening the Super Regionals action against Mississippi State, Arizona Softball (37-20, 8-16) came with the big, 3-2 win. 

Arizona Softball is rolling! Despite scraping into the NCAA Tournament as a three seed, the Wildcats have been red hot, using their talent and experience to get past a challenging Missouri Regional unscathed.

Now onto an even greater challenge against host Mississippi State in Starkville, the Wildcats entered game one ready and able to take on anything.

Turning to Hanah Bowen who got the start on the bump for the Wildcats, once again, she would channel her inner Taryne Mowatt in this one, throwing another complete game as she lasted eight innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits.

Luckily, the offense did just enough to help deliver the win in this one! Despite finding their rhythm late, Arizona was able to plate a run in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to outdo the Bulldogs in this one.

Allie Skaggs and Izzy Pacho led the way, going a combined 3-8 from the dish with two RBIs. Both Skaggs and Pacho hit solo home runs, Izzy’s being the eventual game-winner.

Despite falling behind 1-0 in the fifth inning, Arizona Softball bounced back in a big way to come away with the 3-2 win!

It is not how you start, but rather how you finish! And boy, did Arizona Softball finish game one of the Super Regionals in a big way!

Mississippi State would break the 0-0 tie in the fifth inning when Bulldogs’ catcher Mia Davidson would blast a solo home run to centerfield.

Luckily for us, that lead wouldn’t last for long as the Wildcats’ bats would come alive in the following inning. Trailing 1-0, Allie started the inning in a big way when she turned on a 2-1 pitch and drove it to right field to tie it at 1-1.

Mississippi State would get another run in the sixth when designated hitter Matalasi Faapito would hit yet another home run for the Bulldogs to make it 2-1.

However, once again, the Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly as Arizona was able to rally in the seventh, using some timely hits to tie the game at 2-2 following a sacrifice fly from Sharlize Palacios.

Heading to extra innings, luckily, Arizona would make quick work of things in the eighth inning when Izzy Pacho would come up huge for the Cats, blasting a 1-1 pitch to left field to give Arizona the 3-2 lead.

Hanah Bowen would shut things down in the bottom of the eighth to come away with the 3-2 in game one!

Where does Arizona Softball go from here?

With the win, Arizona improves to 37-20 (8-16) on the year and returns to action on Saturday afternoon for game two against Mississippi State. First pitch is set for 1:00 P.M. MST.