(Tucson, AZ) After losing the first game to Florida State, the Wildcats now sat at 0-4 against top ten teams this season. Losses included Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida State.
The Cats battled back in the game Friday night after trailing 2-0 but would fall short of the comeback losing the game 5-3 going down swing to their last at-bat. One glaring statement after the game was “names on the jersey shouldn’t matter”, that was from Coach Candrea regarding how they have been in these moments before and that the name on the jersey shouldn’t phase his players.
Arizona would turn to Gina Snyder in circle to see if she could slow down the Seminoles offense in a pivotal game for the Cats. Snyder would strike out the first batter she faced igniting the crowd from the get-go. The Seminoles got to Snyder hitting a solo shot to put them up 1-0 early.
Even though Arizona gave up a run in the inning the Cats got a momentum stealing play from center fielder Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza robing the Noles of what looked like a two–run homer and throwing out the baserunner for a double play to end the inning.
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Down a run in the first the Wildcats would pick-up Snyder putting up a crooked number in the inning scoring three runs to give Arizona the 3-1 lead. The key hit in the inning came from Dejah Mulipola blistering the ball over the left field stands giving her ten homers on the season.
It seemed as if a completely different team was out on the field Saturday night, one that was playing the game with a ton of confidences.
Snyder would follow suit of the offense and pitch a scoreless frame in the second inning with some help from her defense getting a double play. She ended the inning striking out the Noles batter sending the crowd into a frenzy. Arizona finally got their shutout inning that they have been looking for in a big game.
The offense kept their foot on the gas peddle scoring four runs in the second inning to put the Cats up 7-1 and in full control of the game.
Mulipola once again was the driving force behind Arizona’s four run inning, launching her second homer of the game and tenth of the season. The Cats were able to string together at-bats relying on each other to kick-start innings.
This would be a game to remember for Palomino-Cardoza but not at the plate, instead with her glove in the outfield as she was making highlight play after highlight play. Even though she had been 0-2 at the plate going into the fifth inning it was clear Palomino-Cardoza was making an impact on the field and not letting her struggles at the plate affect her in anyway.
The Seminoles wouldn’t go down with out a fight though, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning from a two-run homer cutting the Arizona lead to 7-3. It was clear that this wasn’t Snyder’s best game but she was able to battle her way through making big outs when they were needed and kept Arizona in front.
Just like the first inning the Wildcats would answer the Noles runs with runs of their own not letting FSU climb their way back into the game. Arizona scored two runs from a clutch two out single by Reyna Carranco right back up the middle scoring Rylee Pierce and Hanah Bowen which extended the Wildcats lead 9-3.
Every time the Seminoles fought back Arizona would deliver a counter punch silencing any shift in momentum or hope the Noles.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Arizona was looking to run rule FSU to put an exclamation mark on what was possibly the Cat’s best game of the season.
The bottom of the order would get things rolling for Arizona as Hannah “Peanut” Martinez and Jenna Kean were able to reach base with one out. Up came Palomino-Cardoza to the plate looking to put the final nail in the coffin. Palomino-Cardoza came up clutch with her first hit of the game hitting a missile to right field plating both runs to walk it off for Arizona with the finale score of 11-3.
It was a complete three-sixty turn around from the previous game. Arizona came out with fire and confidence in a statement win over the Seminoles.
Arizona will end their three-game series vs. Florida State Sunday at 12 a.m. in a rubber match to see who will take the series.
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