(PHOENIX, AZ) Eighth-ranked Arizona extended its winning streak to 17 games with an 8-1 victory over Grand Canyon on Saturday, finishing off a three-game sweep of GCU after two shutout wins on Friday.
Arizona’s pitching was strong for the second straight day, getting a complete game from Hanah Bowen, who allowed one run on four hits with a career-high-tying eight strikeouts. The sophomore improved to 3-0 on the season with her longest outing as a Wildcat.
Meanwhile, the Wildcat offense plated eight runs on 15 hits, including homers from Dejah Mulipola, Malia Martinez and Hillary Edior. The Cats took a while to get going against a trio of GCU pitchers, plating just one run over the first four innings before scoring three in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh inning to break the game open.
Photo by Brittany Meade/Arizona Athletics
The homers by Mulipola (her 17th of the season), Martinez (11th) and Edior (1st) were three of UA’s six extra base hits; Reyna Carranco, Carli Campbell and Jessie Harper doubled in the contest.
Harper posted three hits and an RBI, her Pac-12-best 54th in the game. Malia Martinez and Jenna Kean had two hits apiece.
Arizona improved to 35-7 with its 17th consecutive victory while Grand Canyon dropped to 26-17. The Cats return to Pac-12 play next week when they welcome Stanford to Hillenbrand Stadium for a Thursday-Saturday series in Tucson.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom 1: GCU took the early lead with a two-out solo home run.
Top 3: Arizona tied the game in the third inning. Jenna Kean led off the frame with a single up the middle before Reyna Carranco traded places with a fielder’s choice. With two out and two strikes, Jessie Harper ripped a double to right-center to score Carranco from first and tie the game.
Top 5: The Cats grabbed the lead in the top of the fifth. Dejah Mulipola (2-run) and Malia Martinez (solo) hit back-to-back home runs to take a 4-1 lead.
Top 6: Jenna Kean and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza led off the sixth inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners for Carranco, who doubled them both home to give the Cats a 6-1 lead.
Top 7: Hillary Edior led off the top of the seventh with a pinch-hit home run, her first of the season. Izzy Pacho and Ivy Davis followed with pinch-hit singles before Carli Campbell came through with a pinch-hit RBI double to put the Cats on top, 8-1.
UP NEXT
Arizona returns home next week for a three-game series with Stanford at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Cats the Cardinal meet on Thursday (6 p.m.), Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (12 p.m.).
Courtesy of Arizona Communication Services
