(Tucson, AZ) After splitting the double header Friday night, Arizona was looking to rebound with #7 Alabama headlining this Hillenbrand invitational.
Friday Arizona dropped their first game inside newly renovated Rite Hillenbrand to USF. Late inning errors and going 0-6 with runners in scoring position. Alabama is the Wildcats toughest test thus far in the early season.
Arizona bounced back with a dismantling of the UIC Flames, finishing the game in five innings winning 10-1, still Coach Candrea wasn’t thrilled with the Cats energy in their first match-up Friday night.
The Wildcats turned to ace pitcher Taylor McQuillin to get things started against the Crimson Tide. McQuillin started the game locked in striking out two Tide batters and stranding a baserunner.
Much like Friday Arizona got a baserunner on early against Alabama with no outs in the bottom of the first inning but, couldn’t capitalize living an early baserunner stranded.
Alabama came out swinging against McQuillin leading off the inning with a triple straight away centerfield. Centerfielder Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza tried to make a diving attempt on the ball hit to center but came up short allowing the baserunner to get to third base. Later in the inning Alabama would not let the baserunner go to waste scoring the run the with a single to left scoring the runner. The Tide went on to add another run giving the Tide the early 2-0 lead after two innings of play.
Both teams pitched a scoreless frame in the third inning, unable to get any offensive momentum going.
McQuillin pitches a three up and three down frame in the third not giving Alabama any chance to add to their lead.
In the bottom half of the third the Wildcats looked to cut into the Tide’s lead. Arizona’s bottom half of the line-up couldn’t get anything going in the inning going 1-2-3 to end the third.
Alabama added to their lead in the fourth making the score 3-0. Arizona was finally got things going with three straight hits scoring Arizona’s first run of the game. The Cats had runners on secind and third with nobody out in prime position to cut into the lead. Alabama’s pitcher Montana Fouts struck out the next three Wildcats holding Arizona to one run and the Cats let a golden opportunity slip right through their fingers.
You could tell that the Tide had all the momentum after erasing the Wildcats scoring threat. Unphased by the missed opportunity McQuillin went right out and sat down the Alabama side in order. It seemed that McQuillin got stronger as the game went on and really had the Crimson Tide hitters off balanced.
Errors came back to haunt Arizona. The Crimson Tide were able to cash in on some fielding errors in the top of the 6th scoring two more runs giving them a commanding lead of 5-1 late in the game. Arizona was unable to score any runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh.
Alabama added another run in the top of the seventh sealing Arizona’s fate in a 6-1 losing effort against the Crimson Tide. Arizona finished the game going 0-6 with runners in scoring position and batted .143 when leading off an inning. The Wildcats have struggled so far season long with runners on base, it showed on Saturday night against Alabama.
McQullin finish the game going seven innings giving up three earned runs and striking out eight Alabama batters. Along with the inconsistent hitting Arizona also had fielding issues collecting four errors in the game.
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