McQuillin, who lost her perfect-game bid with two outs in the sixth and her no-hit bid with one out in the seventh, and Denham, who pitched a career-high eight innings, each struck out 10 in their complete-game gems.
The two victories were the 15th and 16th consecutive for the Wildcats, who improved to 34-7 on the season with the sweep.
Arizona and Grand Canyon wrap up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. MST on Fox Sports Arizona as a part of the network’s Baseball/Softball Day in Arizona.
Game 1: #8 Arizona 6, Grand Canyon 0
Grand Canyon broke up Taylor McQuillin’s no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, denying the senior her second career no-hitter and the Wildcats’ their second no-no in a four-week span. McQuillin finished off the one-hit shutout, her ninth shutout of the season, in Arizona’s 6-0 game 1 victory.
McQuillin retired the first 17 Lopes of the game before issuing a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth to end the perfect game bid and then lost the no-hitter in the seventh. She struck out 10 in the victory and improved to 15-5 on the year.
The shutout was the fourth in five starts for McQuillin, who has not allowed more than three hits in her last seven starts, all complete games, including five shutouts.
Arizona scored six late runs to support McQuillin. GCU starter Yesenia Morrison matched McQuillin for the first four innings, cooling down the Wildcats with four one-hit innings before UA scored one in the fifth and five in the sixth.
Rylee Pierce hit a solo homer to open the scoring in the top of the fifth before UA plated five runs in the sixth.
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza hit two doubles in the game, giving her the Pac-12 lead with 14 two-baggers this season. Hannah Martinez also had two hits and led the team with two RBI in the contest.
Click on our sponsors logo for specials
Game 2: #8 Arizona 2, Grand Canyon 0 (8 innings)
Alyssa Denham outdueled GCU’s Ryan Denhart, in a pitcher’s duel that required an eighth inning to settle. Both pitchers held the opposing offenses off the scoreboard for seven innings before Reyna Carranco’s two-out single in the eighth gave the Wildcats a 2-0 win in the extra inning.
Denham was brilliant in the circle for the Cats, striking out 10, one off her career high, in the two-hit shutout over eight innings. The junior picked up her 10th victory of the season.
While Denham silenced the GCU bats, Arizona’s offense struggled to support her. The Cats twice put a runner in scoring position in regulation – Carranco in the first and Carranco in the sixth – but could not take advantage.
Arizona finally broke through in the top of the eighth.
Rylee Pierce led off with a sharp single and then Hannah Martinez reached on an error sacrificing Pierce to second. Jenna Kean followed with a sacrifice to put runners at second and third with one out for the top of the UA order. Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza popped out, but Carranco made sure the opportunity did no go wasted, singling up the middle to plate Pierce and Martinez and break the scoreless tie.
Denham shut the Lopes down in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.
The victory was Arizona’s third in as many tries in extra innings this season.
UP NEXT
Arizona and GCU conclude the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. MST. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Arizona as a part of the network’s Baseball/Softball day.
Courtesy of Arizona Communication Services
Dry Cleaning & Laundry has never been this easy! No minimums and no hidden fees.
