(Tucson, AZ) Kim Doss
For the second time this week, the Arizona softball team dealt with difficult winds that affected play at Hillenbrand. While junior left-hander Taylor McQuillin said that it didn’t affect the pitchers as much, Jessie Harper talked about the positive effects of the wind drills the team ran over the week. Those drills and a more relaxed night at the plate paid off with a 4-1 win over the Utah Utes.
While the wind was not as strong last night as it was on Wednesday, the batters also appeared to be pressing less and were able to make better contact with the offerings from the Utah pitching staff. Patience and a solid approach in the batter’s box allowed four Wildcats to reach base over the first two innings, but they were unable to get the timely hit to push any runs over home plate.
Utah got the scoring started in the top of the third inning when they sent six batters to face McQuillin. After striking out first baseman Alyssa Palacios, McQuillin walked left fielder Julia Noskin. The Utes were able to string together a single, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly to score Noskin and take the 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats picked up their pitcher in the bottom half of the inning. Alyssa Palomino turned in another strong night at the plate, ending with a hit, two walks and a run scored. She got things started in the third, leading off with a double down the left field line. Perhaps sensing another pitchers’ duel, Coach Mike Candrea sent Jaycee Lindley in to pinch run for Palomino.
Reyna Carranco followed Palomino with an exciting at-bat. After attempting a bunt, a wild pitch by Utah senior Katie Donovan put Carranco in a 1-1 count and allowed Lindley to take third. After another foul ball, Carranco was forced to dive to get out of the way of a ball over her head. She sent the next pitch back at the pitcher. After ricocheting off the leg of Donovan, the ball ended up behind second base. While Carranco was thrown out at first, Lindley crossed home to even the score at 1-1
.
Donovan was able to get out of the inning without further damage with some help from Arizona. Harper popped an 0-1 pitch up to right field. Dejah Mulipola worked a walk, but was caught stealing to end the inning. Aleah Craighton was in a 1-2 count at the plate, so would lead off the in the bottom of the fourth.
The Arizona defense took center stage in the top of the fourth, turning in an error, a foiled sacrifice bunt attempt, a spectacular catch and solid pitching. Utah right fielder Hailey Hilburn led off, reaching first on an error by Harper. Shortstop Abby Robertson attempted to move HIlburn over, but her bunt into the air was perfectly played by Palomino. McQuillin did her part, striking out designated player Ally Dickman on three pitches. Arizona left fielder Carli Campbell ended the inning, making a diving catch of a sinking line drive off the bat of Palacios.
The next inning and a half were relatively uneventful, and it appeared that the bottom of the fifth would be, too. Campbell and center fielder Ashleigh Hughes grounded into outs to start it off, turning the order over. Palomino worked a walk to give the Wildcats a baserunner. Carranco followed, taking the 0-2 pitch through the hole between shortstop and second base. With runners on first and second, Harper came to the plate.
“With two outs, I was just trying to do something to move the runners,” she said. Harper did just that, hitting the first pitch high into the air towards center field. It looked that it would hang up enough to stay in the park, as so many balls have this week.
“I thought it was just a bloop pop fly,” Harper said after the game, adding that she was running hard out of the box because she thought the best case scenario was a ball that hit off the bottom of the fence. Instead, the ball carried, landing just outside the fence for a three-run homer. Arizona had taken the 4-1 lead on Harper’s ninth home run of the season.
Utah tried to respond in the top of the sixth. Third baseman Heather Bowen led off with a double, and was moved to third with one out on a Hilburn single to left field. McQuillin was able to get out of the inning without damage, though, inducing a fielder’s choice from Robertson and a pop out from Dickman.
Arizona’s last trip to the plate also put some pressure on the Utah defense. The first two batters reached base. Malia Martinez opened on a single up the middle. Designated player Hillary Edior attempted to bunt Martinez over, but was able to safely reach on a throwing error from the Utah second baseman. Ivy Davis was put in to run for Edior.
This ended the night for Utah right-hander Donovan, who was replaced by Hilburn in the circle. The scoring change saw Hilburn taking over as designated player for Dickman, while Aubrey Peterson officially took over for Dickman in right field.
The change immediately paid dividends for the Utes, with Hilburn striking out both Campbell and pinch hitter Tamara Statman. Palomino loaded the bases with two outs by legging out an infield single to the third baseman. Hilburn came back, inducing a ground ball from Carranco which saw Davis out at third to end the inning.
McQuillin finished her strong night in the circle in the seventh, sitting the side down in order. While she had fewer strikeouts this outing, she was effective over seven innings, allowing only one run on three hits. She also gave up two walks and hit one batter.
Utah’s pitching staff allowed four runs on six hits from Arizona. They each struck out two, while Donovan also walked four and hit a batter in the loss.
Arizona ended the night with a 22-3 record, snapping Utah’s seven-game winning streak. The Utes fell to 14-7 on the year. The two teams will meet again at Hillenbrand on Saturday night at 7pm.
