T Statman, Taylor McQuillin lead Arizona past Auburn, into Tucson Regional final

Taylor McQuillin tossed seven strong innings and T Statman came through with a two-run, pinch-hit single to lead the Arizona Wildcats to a 2-1 win over the Auburn Tigers in the NCAA Softball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Hillenbrand Stadium.

The Wildcats (44-12) advance to Sunday’s Tucson Regional Championship, needing just one more victory to push on to Super Regionals. Their opponent is to be determined.

Pac-12 batting champion Reyna Carranco returned from a broken hand and racked up two hits, scoring on Statman’s RBI single, which broke a scoreless tie in the fourth after both teams squandered a few scoring chances early on.

Auburn (38-20) left the bases loaded in third. After a mound visit from pitching coach Taryne Mowatt, McQuillin struck out No. 3 hitter Tannon Snow before getting cleanup hitter Kendall Veach to foul out.

Auburn finally scratched a run off McQuillin in the seventh, when Bree Fornis lifted a solo homer off the batter’s eye.

McQuillin’s complete game came roughly 15 hours after she threw a one-hitter against Harvard on Friday. It was the first time all season she has started on consecutive days, but she looked solid in allowing six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

This story will be updated.

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