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Arizona softball begins Big XII Tournament Thursday with opponent TBD

The Arizona softball team finished second in the regular season and will play their inaugural Big XII Tournament game on Thursday with their opponent to be determined.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Jun 3, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Arizona Wildcats pitcher Devyn Netz (34) throws a pitch during the third inning of the NCAA Women's College World Series game against the Oregon State Beavers at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Arizona won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
Jun 3, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Arizona Wildcats pitcher Devyn Netz (34) throws a pitch during the third inning of the NCAA Women's College World Series game against the Oregon State Beavers at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Arizona won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

Arizona will play its inaugural Big XII Tournament game on Thursday at 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time versus the winner of seventh-seeded Central Florida and 10th seed Utah, who play on Wednesday. Arizona did not play Central Florida but swept Utah in a three-game series in March.

Arizona ended the regular season with a three-game sweep of Houston by outscoring the Cougars 23-4. Central Florida finished 32-21-1 overall and 12-12 in the Big XII. Utah is 13-39 overall and was 5-19 in the Big XII. Arizona outscored Utah 19-6 in their three-game series in March with two shutouts and one run-rule victory.

Arizona enters the Big XII Tournament with the best offense in the conference. The Wildcats led the Big XII in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging this season. Arizona was also second in ERA and third in opponent batting average. Texas Tech had the best pitching staff in the Big XII during the regular season.

Central Florida finished fourth in the Big XII in batting and fourth in pitching during the regular season. Utah was 11th and last in the Big XII in batting and pitching during the regular season. Arizona beat Central Florida 19-4 in six innings in 2016 and lost 2-0 in Orlando in 2021.

Arizona is 48-16 versus Utah all-time and has won the last five games against the Utes. Arizona was 2-2 with one win in the two Pac-12 Tournaments that were held. BYU, who was 1-1 in their only appearance in 2024, is the only current team in the conference without a losing record among current Big XII teams in the tournament.

If Arizona wins its first game, it would play the winner of Iowa State versus BYU or Houston. Arizona two out of three at BYU in March. The Wildcats outscored the Cougars 27-15 in the three games. Arizona and Iowa State did not play this season.

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