Photo courtesy of Arizona Communication Services.
The Lady Bat Cats slated to play their fourth game of the Wildcat Invitational early Saturday morning against USC Upstate.
Each team had a quick first inning in which Arizona’s Aleah Craighton made a home run saving catch in centerfield.
McQuillan had a quick 1-2-3 inning with her second strikeout. The second and third outs came from two caught opposite outfield fly balls.
Caylie Van Auken would grab herself a 1-2-3 inning as well utilizing her powerful change up.
Deja Mulipola made the first out of the inning by striking out on a nasty changeup. Malia Martinez would fly out to centerfield, and Freshman Ivy Davis grounded to the pitcher to end the inning.
Three up, three down innings continued as McQuillan had back to back strikeouts. A slow roller back to Alyssa Palomino ended the inning.
Van Auken continued to pitch well as the Spartans set down the Cats in order.
Arizona got on the board with a rocket line drive to the left field wall by Mulipola scoring Carranco and putting herself in scoring position.
Martinez would be up next for the Cats, and went deep in the count before sending a Van Auken fastball over the centerfield for a three run blast putting Arizona up 3-0
USC Upstate’s Elisa Cecchetti would start the inning off with a hit to the right-center wall. After a strikeout, Cecchetti would be caught stealing second by Mulipola for the second out. McQuillan would be credited her seventh strikeout to end the fifth.
The bottom half of the inning, Arizona would not be able to add to their lead, but would instead be sat down in order with a strikeout on yet another Van Auken change up and two fly balls to the outfield.
The Spartans would try to rally in their final at bats of the game and would begin with a solid hit to left field, but would ultimately be shut out by two fly balls and McQuillan’s ninth strikeout to end the game.
