(Tucson, AZ) Arizona opened conference play with run rule 8-0 shutout victory over the Oregon Ducks on Friday night. Taylor McQuillin was a key piece of the win not allowing Oregon to get into any type of rhythm offensively. In the first game the talk of the night was Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza not only homering twice but sending the ball deep into the Tucson night sky on top of the Gittens Gym to propel the Cats in a run-rule of the Ducks.
With the Ducks falling to a record of (11-11), the Wildcats would turn to Gina Snyder to keep the Ducks off balanced.
In fifteen innings pitched this season Snyder has been a steady force in the circle only giving up 4 runs, while racking up nineteen strikeouts along the way.
The Ducks offense struggled to get anything going Friday night, Snyder would start where the Cats left off keeping the Ducks off balance. Through the first four innings Snyder struck out four batters and set Oregon down in order in the fourth.
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The homerun parade rolled over into Saturday’s game with Dejah Mulipola orchestrating the Arizona power game. After Reyna Carranco doubled, and Jesse Harper singled Mulipola came up to the plate looked to cash in on an early scoring opportunity. She hit the jackpot, nailing a three-run homer over the right field wall and gave Arizona the early 3-0 lead.
The pitching continued to stifle the Ducks the entire game, only allowing three hits and just four baserunners. Snyder was in full control of the game when Coach Candrea decided to use the opportunity to see what Marissa Schuld could do in relief . Not much changed for the Cats as Schuld locked down the fifth inning only allowing one Oregon hit.
The power continued in this series for the Cats, with Mulipola who hit her second jack over the center field wall which gave her a PAC-12 tying thirteen on the season putting Arizona ahead 4-0.
Later in the inning Zona got a three run dinger from Jenna Kean in the ninth spot of the lineup. A shot to right field over wall just inside the foul pole and gave the Cats a commanding 7-0 lead headed into the fifth inning.
The Wildcats would run rule the Ducks as the Cats Rylee Pierce hit the game ending single scoring Harper from third.
With two games in the books, Arizona clinched the series headed to Sunday’s final game. So far everything has clicked for the Cats as they’ve put up sixteen runs thus far, and shutting out Oregon on identical scores.
The pitching staff has only allowed five hits. The Ducks haven’t had many opportunities with only six batters reaching base.
The Wildcats look to sweep the opening conference series Sunday at noon.
After dominating Saturday’s game the Wildcats now sit at (20-7) and start out the PAC-12 at (3-0).
