(Tucson, AZ) As conference play approaches for the Wildcats, they sit with a record of (17-5).
Arizona has won the last eight games scoring an average of 7.75 runs a game. While the Cats have been red hot,they have had their struggles this season specifically against top ten opponents going 0-3.
The Cats face #1 Florida State for a three game series right before conference play begins. As Coach Candrea said this three-game series is a “midterm” for the Cats to see where they stand nationally.
The night started off with ace pitcher Taylor McQuillin in the circle and striking out the first batter on three pitches. Those would be the three easiest pitches of the inning for McQuillin as Florida State locked in and made McQuillin work every at-bat afterwards. With the tight zone McQuillin struggled to find control giving up two walks in the inning, the Seminoles would capitalize on the early walks scoring two runs in the top half of the first.
Arizona’s offense would face one of the top pitchers in the Nation in Meghan King who has an era of 1.20. Through the first two innings the Cats wouldn’t find any rhythm with their bats, not even getting on base during that stretch.
With the crowd quitting down and Arizona without a hit, the Cats were at the bottom of the order and looking to get something started. It wasn’t until one out in the third inning with Hannah “Peanut” Martinez at the plate, she beat out a ground ball to get on base and Arizona’s first hit. Jenna Kean would follow with a walk putting two on and one out. Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza at the plate, suddenly the Wildcats had momentum on their side. Palomino-Cardoza would cash in with runners sending a rocket down the right field line scoring bith runners to tie the game.
There is a reason why FSU is ranked number one and they showed it the very next inning. The Seminoles answered Arizona’s two running in with a two–run inning of their own going yard against McQuillin to put FSU up 4-2 in the fourth inning. The biggest hurdle for McQuillin and Arizona was finding the strike-zone.
Through five innings McQuillin in characteristically allowed seven walks putting the Cats in some jams. The Seminoles would add on another run putting the Noles up 5-3 in the sixth inning.
The Wildcats would not go down quietly though, in the bottom of the sixth Dejah Mulipola lifted the Cats the spirits by hitting a solo shot and cutting into the Seminoles lead 5-3. That would be all Arizona could muster up before heading into the final inning with in two runs of FSU.
Arizona would make a pitching change in the seventh to Hanah Bowen looking to hold the Cats two runs behind. Bowen was locked in getting the first two batters out with ease. She would finish the inning striking out the last batter shutting down the Noles in order and gave Arizona some life headed into the final half inning.
However, the Wildcats comeback would fall to the waste side as Arizona was unable to put any runs on the board giving the Seminoles the 5-3 victory in a battle between two highly ranked teams in the country.
After another loss to a top ten team Arizona now is 0-4 against top opponents, but have two more games against the Seminoles on Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday. It felt as Arizona is knocking on the door of beating a top ten opponent.
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