(Tucson, AZ) Round Two in the Arizona Fall Ball schedule pitted the Bears of Phoenix College against the Wildcats.
In the opening game, the Cats had little competition with Chandler/Gilbert College 22-0.
Marissa Schuld started in the circle for Arizona. The Bears went 1-2-3 in the top of the first.
Zona got three on in the bottom of the first and the Bears should have been out of the inning but a pop fly just beyond the infield grass was dropped by the center fielder. Both the shortstop and second baseman didn’t go into the outfield to help out. With the wind blowing in, it was a long run for the center fielder. Arizona 3-0
The Bears got a one out single to center field which was the first hit given up by Arizona this fall as they no hit Chandler/Gilbert. Phoenix College went down in consecutive batters after the hit.
Phoenix College’s lack of communication struck again in the bottom of the third inning when the right fielder and second baseman didn’t call for a pop up to shallow right as it fell in scoring a run, A two out error allowed catcher Izzy Pacho to hit a line drive to just over the right field wall for two more runs and gave the Cats a 6-0 lead.
Alyssa Denham came in to pitch for Arizona in the top of the 3rd inning. You could see the improvement that pitching coach Taryne Mowatt has done with her since last season. Denham set the side down in order in the third and fourth inning.
More miscommunication came up again in bottom of the fifth inning. With a runner at first base a routine ground ball out to first as the third baseman as was drawn in and no one covered the bag and the runner advance from first to third. Jesse Harper hit a rope line drive to left center field that just cleared the wall for two RBI.
The inning continued when Sharlize Palacios hit a rare inside the park the h9me run with Alyssa Palomino – Cardoza on base for another two runs. The Wildcats scored four runs in their half of the fifth to lead 10-0.
Janelle Meono began the bottom of the sixth inning with a single was singled in by Palomino – Cardoza. Bowen and Cardoza also scored to make the lead 13-0 Arizona.
Sophomore Vanessa Foreman came in to pitch for the Cats in the seventh inning and gave up the first run of the Fall as the Bears scored off a single up the middle and made the score 13-1.
Pacho came up with one outfit and hit her second home run of the game over the left center field wall to give Arizona 14-1. Jenna Kean got on by a fielders choice and stole second and with the ball going into center field, tool third base as well. Meono singled her in. 15-1 Zona.
Reyna Carranco kept the fun going as she hit a gapper to to left center to score another run in the inning. Palomino – Cardoza came back up with two on and walked to load the bases. Malia Martinez, the ninth batter to come to the plate with the bases juiced doubled sharply down the left field line and score three more runs. Pacho in her second at bat struck out looking on a nasty change up. Arizona in the beat down 19-1 in an unusual 10 inning game.
Bowen came back in to pitch (allowed in a Fall exhibition games) in the top of the 9th inning and was just as successful as she was at the start of the game.
Arizona got what it was looking for; a chance to play everyone, using the entire pitching staff and an extra few innings of game situation repetitions.
The Cats return to Hillenbrand October 25th hosting the Arizona Fall Invitational. First game starts at 2 pm with Arizona Western facing Central Arizona.
Zona plays at 4 pm versus Central Arizona followed by Arizona Western at 6 pm.
Pma College plays in the nightcap against Cypress College at 8 pm.
Post Game interviews are on the 520 Sports Talk Facebook Page.
