The lights go out at Hillenbrand Stadium on February 17, 2018
Tucson, AZ
By Kim Doss
After a successful weekend in Tempe last week, the 4-1 Wildcats and their fans were looking forward to seeing the new look softball team at Hillenbrand Stadium. Two days of rain and a revised schedule delayed that home debut until 6:45 PM on Saturday. That didn’t deter 2,179 loyal fans, who braved the late start, chilly weather and lighting mishaps to watch 12th-ranked Arizona go 2-0 at the Hillenbrand Invitational.
Alyssa Denham prepares to deliver a pitch
The opening game of the double header featured sophomore RHP Alyssa Denham (1-0) facing off against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. Denham controlled the game from start to finish, allowing no runs with only five hits and four strikeouts in seven innings of work. With the defense turning a double play in the second inning and catcher Dejah Mulipola cutting down ULM’s Rochelle Roberts’ attempt to steal in the fourth, the Warhawks had difficulty advancing beyond first base all evening. Home runs by three different Wildcats provided all of the scoring in Arizona’s 4-0 victory.
The Wildcats’ scoring got off to a quick start with Reyna Carranco taking the second pitch she saw over the center field wall in the bottom of the first, putting Arizona up 1-0. The offense would continue making consistent contact with Warhawks’ pitching throughout the game, getting at least one hit in each inning. Starting pitcher Rachael Murphy gave up two runs on eight hits and a walk in four innings. Reliever Paige Murray came in and gave up three hits and two runs in her one inning of work, while reliever Jesse Watts allowed a run on three hits in one inning. Murphy struck out one and Watts struck out three to give the staff four strikeouts on the night.
Home run!
After the early home run by Carranco, the Wildcats had their own difficulties getting runners across the plate. That would change in the fifth inning when Murray took the circle. Carranco got things started again, hitting a double off the center field wall. Warhawks center fielder Hunter Hogan had a spectacular night, turning several hard hit Wildcat balls into outs, but she was unable to run this one down. Shortstop Jessie Harper would follow that with a two-run home run to push the Wildcat lead to 3-0. The final score would be set by Alyssa Palomino’s pinch hit home run off Watts in the bottom of the sixth.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Arizona faced the Montana Grizzlies, who demonstrated that they know a bit about bearing down, too. Arizona starter Taylor McQuillin would finish the game with 11 strikeouts, but the Grizzlies’ pitching staff successfully kept the Wildcats off the board for much of the evening, as well.
McQuillin started strong, striking out center fielder MaKenna McGill and first base Ashlyn Lyons. Then, shortstop Delene Colburn stepped into the box. After evening the count at 2-2, Colburn continued to battle, hitting three long foul balls, then running the count full. The next ball was promptly deposited over the fence to give Montana a 1-0 lead. Right fielder Alex Wardlow followed Colburn with a single to left field, but was caught stealing for the third out with Tori Lettus facing an even count.
The Wildcats tried to get something going in the bottom half of the opening inning. Hughes and Carranco would both ground out to Colburn at short, but Harper followed them with a bloop single into shallow center. Mulipola worked a base on balls to move Harper into scoring position, but the threat would come to an end with Grizzlies left fielder Anne Mari Petrino making a diving catch of Alyssa Palomino’s foul ball.
While both pitchers faced runners in the second and top of the third innings, neither offense could take advantage. The Wildcats finally broke through against Montana starter Colleen Driscoll in the bottom of the third. After Ashleigh Hughes was thrown out attempting to bunt for a base hit, Carranco doubled to center. It looked like the inning might end without Wildcat runs when Harper hit into a 5-3 put out. Mulipola had other ideas, though, hitting a two-run homer on the seventh pitch of her at-bat. The Wildcats took the 2-1 lead.
Both coaches substituted liberally, hoping to jumpstart their offenses, but the most exciting play after the Mulipola homer came in the top of the sixth. Perhaps wanting to inject some action, the timer on the Hillenbrand lights decided it was time to play in the dark. As Montana’s Gabby Martinez hit a fly ball to center, the lights suddenly went out. Not to be defeated by the ill timed blackout, Wildcats center fielder Ashleigh Hughes caught the ball for the first out. After a brief delay, play was resumed, and McQuillin retired the next two batters.
Arizona would try to add insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Palomino worked a walk from Grizzlies reliever Michaela Hood. Ivy Davis entered as a pinch runner for Palomino, and was advanced to second by Malia Martinez’s single to left field. With one out, Hillary Edior entered to pinch hit for Carli Campbell. Both baserunners moved up on a wild pitch from Hood. Edior tagged a hard line drive on the next pitch, but Hood was able to snag the ball out of the air. Davis was doubled up when she strayed too far off third base, ending the inning.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, McQuillin was able to shut the door. Colburn, Wardlow and Lettus would each strike out in the top of the seventh, giving McQuillin eleven strikeouts with only two hits and two walks. Her effort was rewarded with a 2-1 victory.
The #12 team improved to 6-1 on the season, and will face the Colorado State Rams and the Bryant University Bulldogs in another doubleheader on Sunday, February 18th.
