#5 ARIZONA vs. GRAND CANYON
MARCH 29 • HILLENBRAND STADIUM
THE GAMES (Times MST)
1 | Wednesday, March 29 (3 p.m.) |
vs.
|
Live Stream |
Live Stats |
Twitter Updates |
Tickets
2 | Wednesday, March 29 (5 p.m.) |
vs.
|
Live Stream |
Live Stats |
Twitter Updates |
Tickets
WEEKLY NOTES
THIS WEEK: Following a 6-0 start to Pac-12 play, the Wildcats (32-1) take a break from league play to host Grand Canyon in a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Cats will then head to Cal for a three-game series with the Bears to resume league play. Arizona carries a 17-game winning streak into the week, including a three-game sweep over No. 6 Washington last weekend.
CATS AT A GLANCE
- Arizona is off to its best 33-game start (32-1) since 2004 and ranked No. 5 in the country, its highest ranking at least six weeks into any season since 2010.
- Through 33 games this season, the Wildcats are outscoring their opponents 260-34. Their offense has hit more home runs (NCAA-most 48) than their opponents have total runs (34). UA has over 100 more hits (302) than its opponent has total bases (168).
- Head coach Mike Candrea became the first coach in NCAA softball history to reach 1,500 Division I victories on Sunday vs. Washington. Candrea, who is 1,500-380-2 (.797), trails only Michigan's Carol Hutchins (1,506 wins) in NCAA history. Candrea's 1,500 victories have occurred over 30 years of coaching while Hutchins is in her 35th year (including a season in a lower NCAA division).
- Candrea is the fastest coach in NCAA history, in any sport, in any division, to record 1,500 career wins.
- UA leads the Pac-12 in slugging percentage (.579), runs scored (260), hits (302), RBI (227), doubles (49), home runs (48), walks (148), ERA (0.87), opposing batting average (.159) and strikeouts (246).
- Arizona has not allowed more than four runs in a game this season. The Wildcats are second in the nation with a 0.87 team ERA. Meanwhile, the UA offense is scoring 7.88 runs per game, second best nationally.
- Through seven weeks, Arizona has earned eight of the 18 Pac-12 weekly awards (Player, Pitcher and Freshman), by six different players. Arizona has had three Pac-12 Players of the Week (Katiyana Mauga – 1, Mo Mercado – 3, Jessie Harper – 6), three Pac-12 Pitchers of the Week (Danielle O'Toole – 3, Michelle Floyd – 5, Danielle O'Toole – 7) and three Pac-12 Freshmen of the Week (Dejah Mulipola – 2, Jessie Harper – 5, Jessie Harper – 6).
- Arizona has the top two pitchers (by ERA) in the Pac-12. Danielle O'Toole leads the way with a 0.69 ERA and Taylor McQuillin is right behind her at 0.84. Arizona has not had two pitchers finish the season with ERAs south of 1.00 since 2001.
- The Wildcats are second in the NCAA RPI, a metric relied on heavily for seeding the NCAA Tournament. The Pac-12 makes up the first three spots, as the Cats are sandwiched by Washington (No. 1) and Oregon (No. 3).
- Arizona has scored 74 runs in the first inning this season. That's more than double its pitchers have allowed all season (34) in all innings combined.
- Arizona's freshmen have more combined home runs (27) than 254 Division I teams, including four Pac-12 teams. Arizona leads the nation as a team with 48 round-trippers.
- Two Wildcats (Dejah Mulipola - 37, Mandie Perez - 41) have scored more runs individually than UA's opponents combined (34). Alyssa Palomino has driven in more runs (37) as well.
ARIZONA vs. GRAND CANYON: Arizona is 2-0 all-time vs. Grand Canyon, winning both games against the Antelopes at the 2014 Hillenbrand Invitational.
SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES: Grand Canyon (25-9) also played Washington last week, falling in a doubleheader to the Huskies … GCU features a balanced offense that hits .317 as a team, led by Shea Smith (.387, 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and Camree Wartman (.370, 11 2B, 2 HR, 30 RBI) … The Lopes have stolen 33 bases and only been caught thrice … A trio of pitchers have posted a 2.46 ERA in 228.0 innings this season … Taylor Nowlin leads the team in innings pitched (94.2) and has a 13-4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 94 strikeouts ... Former Wildcat standout Kelsey Rodriguez is an assistant coach at Grand Canyon.
