Arizona softball eliminated by Alabama in Women’s College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY — Alabama got the timely hit, Arizona didn’t, and now the Wildcats are heading home.

Alabama first baseman Bailey Hemphill doubled home two runs and snared a line drive to help the Crimson Tide escape a critical jam as they beat Arizona 2-0 on Saturday to eliminate the Wildcats from the Women’s College World Series.

Arizona finishes the season 48-15 overall. It was the Wildcats’ first WCWS appearance since 2010.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, UA second baseman Hanah Bowen ripped a frozen rope to the right side that Hemphill stretched out to catch, before revealing the ball to the umpire as if she were a magician.

It was a gut-wrenching sequence for the Wildcats, who couldn’t get much going otherwise.

Prior to Bowen’s lineout, Reyna Carranco struck out swinging, the second straight game she fanned with runners in scoring position with less than two outs.

Alabama ace Montana Fouts, who beat Arizona in February, held the Wildcats to three hits to go along with four walks and eight strikeouts.

Carli Campbell coaxed a walk with one out in the fifth, but was immediately caught stealing second, a puzzling decision since power-hitting Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, who hit three homers in Arizona’s first two WCWS games, was in the batter’s box as the potential tying run.

Arizona gave the nod to No. 2 pitcher Alyssa Denham, who only lasted three innings. In the third, she walked No. 8 hitter Maddie Morgan on four pitches and leadoff hitter KB Sides on five pitches to bring up Hemphill.

The SEC RBI leader laced on 0-1 pitch into the left-center gap to plate both runners.

Taylor McQuillin entered the circle in the fourth and only allowed one hit in four scoreless innings of work, her final appearance as a Wildcat.

Fellow senior Rylee Pierce had a highlight of her own, diving forward to catch a bunt in the seventh. She led off the seventh with a deep drive to right field, but it was caught at the warning track.

This story will be updated.

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