(TAMPA, FL) Seventh-ranked Arizona softball split its Saturday doubleheader at the USF Opening Weekend Invitational, falling to No. 5 Florida, 3-2, before downing Illinois State, 9-1 in five innings. When all was said and done, the Cats hit six home runs in the two contests, accounting for 10 of UA’s 11 runs on the day. Dejah Mulipola hit three of UA’s six homers on the day and drove in six runs with four hits in the two games.
For the season, the Wildcats have hit 10 home runs that have brought in 15 of the 17 runs that the Cats have scored this season.
Arizona (3-1) wraps up the USF Opening Weekend Invitational on Sunday vs. North Carolina State (1-1) at 9:15 a.m. MST.
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Game 1: #5 Florida 3, #7 Arizona 2
In a game decided by the long ball, fifth-ranked Florida narrowly defeated seventh-ranked Arizona 3-2. All of the game’s five runs were scored on four homers in the contest.
Dehjah Mulipola and Malia Martinez hit solo homers for the Cats, while Danielle Romanello hit a two-run home run and Jordan Roberts knocked a solo shot for Florida (3-0) in the game.
The Wildcats outhit the Gators, 5-4, in the contest and twice had two runners on in the game, but could not capitalize.
Taylor McQuillin (1-1) was terrific in the circle after surrendering two homers in the first seven batters of the contest. From that point forward, McQuillin retired 14 of the final 17 Gators she faced in the complete-game hard luck loss. In all, McQuillin struck out six batters over 6.0 innings an gave up three runs on four hits with just one walk.
On the other side, Natalie Lugo (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Florida. Lugo replaced Danni Farley, who went 2.1 innings in her first career start, allowing one run on four hits. Lugo entered for Farley in the third inning with runners at first and second and the middle of the order up, but got out of the jam and went on to retire the first 10 batters she faced prior to Martinez’s monster homer in the sixth. Kelly Barnhill earned the save (1) with a scoreless seventh in which she put the tying run on via a walk.
Florida opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first to grab an early 2-0 lead.
Dejah Mulipola responded with a solo homer in the top of the second, but the Gators got the run right back with a solo shot of their own.
In the sixth, Martinez cut the lead in half with her first homer of the season to left.
In the seventh, Barnhill retired the first two batters before walking Joelle Krist on four pitches. But UA would strand the potential tying run at first base.
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Game 2: #7 Arizona 9, Illinois State 1 (5 inn.)
Arizona hit four home runs, two off the bat of Dejah Mulipola, who went 3-for-3 with five RBI, and the Cats run-ruled Illinois State, 9-1 in five innings.
Mulipola’s two home runs were half of UA’s season-best four in the contest. Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and Malia Martinez also homered for the Cats. Mulipola and Palomino-Cardoza now lead UA with three homers through four games while Martinez and Jessie Harper have two apiece.
Hannah Bowen (1-0) picked up the victory in her first start of 2019, going the distance and allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Cats racked up 13 hits in the game, 11 of which came from the top five in the Wildcat order. Both Reyna Carranco and Mulipola went a perfect 3-for-3 while Palomino-Cardoza and Martinez turned in two-hit affairs.
Arizona opened the game quickly, scoring five runs five batters into the bottom of the first. Palomino-Cardoza opened the frame with her second leadoff home run of the season. Three batters later, Mulipola doubled home Carranco and then Martinez cleared the bases with a three-run home run.
Mulipola hit a solo homer in the third and then a three-run bomb in the fourth to give the Cats a 9-1 victory.
Courtesy of Arizona Communications Services
