Arizona softball recap: Wildcats sweep New Mexico State to end losing skid

Arizona softball gets back to winning ways in Las Cruces

Things are back to normal.

Entering on a two-game losing streak, the Arizona Wildcats softball team swept New Mexico State in a doubleheader on Tuesday in Las Cruces, winning the first game 8-0 in six innings then taking the second game 11-1.

The third-ranked Wildcats improve to 45-3 overall and remain 12-3 in the Pac-12.

Arizona’s offense produced just five runs in its two losses to Utah last weekend, but it got back on track against the Aggies.

In the first game, Arizona had 12 hits, with the team’s first four hitters accounting for eight of them.

Mandie Perez, Dejah Mulipola, Mo Mercado, and Katiyana Mauga each had two hits, and all four of them had at least one RBI.

Mauga and Mulipola both homered. Tamara Statman hit a RBI single in the first inning to put UA up 2-0 after Mulipola’s solo shot.

Arizona then scored two runs in the fourth inning and then four in the sixth inning, with two of them being a product of a two-run homer by Mauga, who had a monstrous day at the plate (more on that below).

Danielle O’Toole (23-2, 0.84 ERA) pitched five scoreless innings allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out three. Nancy Bowling pitched a scoreless sixth inning to close out the game.

---

The Wildcats’ offense continued to rake in the second game, as they tallied 11 runs on 10 hits.

The game was scoreless heading into the fourth inning, but Arizona launched three homers in the inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Mo Mercado and Katiyana Mauga went back-to-back to make it 3-0, then Reyna Carranco hit a two-run homer later in the frame.

Then, after scoring a pair of runs in the sixth, Arizona hit three homers in the seventh inning. Mauga hit her third of the afternoon while Jessie Harper and Alyssa Palomino, who was moved from second to fifth in the batting order, went back-to-back soon after.

Mauga now has 86 career homers, putting her just one shy of tying the UA’s all-time record.

Taylor McQuillin (17-1, 1.15 ERA) pitched a complete game, allowing one run on one hit over seven innings. The sophomore left-hander struck out 11 Aggies.

The Wildcats return to action Friday when they host a much-anticipated three-game series against the No. 6 Oregon Ducks (37-4, 10-4 Pac-12).

Friday’s game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks, while Saturday and Sunday’s games will be broadcast on ESPN.

---

You can follow this author on Twitter at @RKelapire

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts http://ift.tt/2oM1vnl
via IFTTT