#2 ARIZONA at #14 UTAH
APRIL 13-15 • SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
 

WEEKLY NOTES
 

THIS WEEK: No. 2/1 Arizona (40-1, 12-0 Pac-12) is set to hit the road for five consecutive games beginning in Salt Lake City, where the Wildcats and Utah Utes (26-7, 8-2 Pac-12) will engage in a top-15 matchup between two of the conference's best, the only two teams to win regionals on the road in 2016. The teams come into the weekend a combined 20-2 in league games; Utah has won its last five Pac-12 games while Arizona is 12-0 in the Pac-12 this year. The 14th-ranked Utes are 7-2 this season against ranked opponents while Arizona is 6-1.
 
CATS AT A GLANCE

• Arizona is off to the nation's best 41-game start (40-1) since the 2004 Wildcats and ranked No. 2 in the country, its highest regular season ranking since week 6 of 2010. The Cats have won 25 straight games, their longest winning streak since 2004 (34).
• The Wildcats are first in the NCAA RPI, a metric relied on heavily for seeding the NCAA Tournament. The Pac-12 has four teams in the top eight in the rankings.
• Katiyana Mauga is heating up. She has six home runs in her last 20 at-bats, hitting .550 with 14 RBI in those seven games. She leads the Pac-12 with 16 home runs and is tied for seventh in NCAA history with 83 in her career. Mauga has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week in each of the last two weeks.
• Through 41 games this season, Arizona has outscored its opposition by 300 runs (339-39). Its offense has hit more home runs (NCAA-most 71) than its opponents have total runs (39). UA has over 100 more hits (380) than its opponent has total bases (209).
• Arizona hit 15 home runs in 12.1 offensive innings (including a school-record five in the first inning of the first game) vs. Stanford last weekend; the Cats outscored the Cardinal 41-2 in three mercy-shortened games. The 15 homers were five more total hits than UA pitchers allowed all weekend (10).
• Head coach Mike Candrea became the first coach in NCAA softball history to reach 1,500 Division I victories earlier this season vs. Washington. Candrea, who is 1,508-380-2 (.798), trails only Michigan's Carol Hutchins (1,512 wins) in NCAA history. Candrea's 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 batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.619), on-base percentage (.452), runs scored (339), hits (380), RBI (305), doubles (60), home runs (71), walks (185), ERA (0.84), opposing batting average (.164), strikeouts (293) and fielding percentage (.979).
• Inividually, Arizona has the Pac-12's leader in slugging percentage (Mauga - .905), runs scored (Perez - 50), hits (Perez - 52), RBI (Palomino - 50), home runs (Mauga - 16), total bases (Harper - 102), walks (Mauga - 31), ERA (McQuillin - 0.66), strikeouts (O'Toole - 143) and wins (O'Toole - 21),
• While Arizona has many eye-popping stats in many different categories, softball is simply a game of scoring more runs than your opponent. Well, Arizona leads the country in runs scored (339) and is second in runs allowed (39). Arizona has not allowed more than four runs in a game this season. The Wildcats are second in the nation with a 0.84 team ERA. Meanwhile, the UA offense is scoring 8.27 runs per game, second best nationally.
• Through nine weeks, Arizona has earned 12 of the 27 Pac-12 weekly awards (Player, Pitcher and Freshman), by seven different players. Arizona has had three Pac-12 Players of the Week (Katiyana Mauga – 1, Mo Mercado – 3, Jessie Harper – 6, Katiyana Mauga – 8, Katiyana Mauga – 9), 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, Alyssa Palomino – 8).
• Arizona has the top two pitchers (by ERA) in the Pac-12. Taylor McQuillin leads the way with a 0.66 ERA and Danielle O'Toole is right behind her at 0.75. Arizona has not had two pitchers finish the season with ERAs south of 1.00 since 2001.
• Arizona has scored 94 runs in the first inning this season. That's more than double its pitchers have allowed all season (39) in all innings combined.
• Arizona's freshmen have more combined home runs (38) than five teams in the Pac-12. That total would be 20th in the country.
• Three Wildcats (Mandie Perez - 50, Dejah Mulipola - 46, Alyssa Palomino - 41) have scored more runs individually than UA's opponents combined (39). Palomino (50), Mauga (43) and Mulipola (43) have driven in more runs.

 
ARIZONA vs. UTAH: Arizona 32-10 all-time vs. Utah and has won four of the five series since the Utes joined the conference in 2012. However, Utah has won three of the last four games in Salt Lake, including winning the series in 2015. Arizona won a closely-contested series in 2016, winning 2-of-3 last year in Tucson (full recap on page 6).
 
SCOUTING THE UTES: Fourteenth-ranked Utah (26-7, 8-2 Pac-12) is coming off a two-game sweep of California, its sixth and seventh victories vs. ranked opponents this year ... The Utes have two of the top three hitters in the Pac-12 (by average), reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Hannah Flippen (.465 - 1st) and Anissa Urtez (.446) ... The Utes are third in the league in ERA (1.66) and have three pitchers with sub 2.25 ERA and more than 40 innings pitched.
 
WHO'S HOT?

• Mo Mercado: In Arizona's last 10 games, Mercado has at least two RBI in seven of them. Last weekend against Stanford, Mercado went 7-for-9 (.778) with three home runs and eight RBI. She leads the Pac-12 with her .457 average in league games.
• Danielle O'Toole: In her last 41.1 Pac-12 innings, O'Toole has allowed 18 total hits, posting a 0.50 ERA and an .134 batting average against over the seven starts. O'Toole no-hit No. 6 Washington and did not allow an earned run in two complete-game victories over the Huskies. She was named conference and national pitcher of the week.
• Reyna Carranco: After having just eight hits in her first 56 at-bats of 2017 (.142), Carranco is 16-for-her-last-32 (.500), and is second in the Pac-12 (behind Mo Mercado) with a .452 batting average in league play.
• Katiyana Mauga: The senior is 11-for-her-last-20 (.550) with six home runs and 14 RBI. She has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week in consecutive weeks. Mauga leads the Pac-12 in home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.905).
• Alyssa Palomino: Palomino has six home runs in Arizona's last 10 games and leads the team 19 RBI in Pac-12 play.
• Taylor McQuillin: The sophomore has not allowed an earned run in her last eight starts (dating back to March 10). She has thrown 22 straight scoreless innings and allowed just 11 total hits over those six games.

 
THE KATI WATCH IS ON: Though Katiyana Mauga's focus remains on OKC, her chase for history is on. How many #MaugaBombs can she hit? A complete breakdown of where she stands in the UA, Pac-12 and NCAA record books can be found on page 13. Here are some notes:

• Mauga has hit 83 career home runs in 216 games played. That's four shy of Arizona's record (87 - Stacie Chambers, 08-11), seven shy of the Pac-12 record (90 - Stacey Nuveman, UCLA, 97-02) and 12 shy of the NCAA record (95 - Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma, 12-15).
• The senior is tied for second in the NCAA with 16 home runs this season.
• With 20 homers as a freshman, 26 as a sophomore and 21 as a junior, Mauga is the only player in NCAA history to hit 20 home runs in each of her first three years.
• Mauga's 83 career homers lead all active hitters in the NCAA by a wide margin. Only one other player has more than 55.

 
RAISE THE A: Arizona started a new tradition in 2016 -- raising the "A" flag in Candrea's Corner, the left field bleachers, after home victories. The flagpole may get a workout, considering Arizona's 685-86 (.887) record all-time at Hillenbrand Stadium. Arizona has won 23 straight games at Hillenbrand Stadium.
 
RED, WHITE AND BLUE TAKES ON A DIFFERENT MEANING: Arizona's long-standing tradition with USA Softball will continue this summer. Senior Danielle O'Toole was named the U.S. Women's National Team while freshmen Jessie Harper and Dejah Mulipola were named to the U.S. Junior Women's National Training Team following a selection camp in January. Arizona's ties to USA Softball run deep, most memorably as skipper Mike Candrea served as the head coach for Team USA's 2004 (gold medal) and 2008 (silver medal) teams. In 2016, a pair of Wildcats received the Association's highest honors as Kellie Fox (2014-15) was named USA Softball Athlete of the Year and redshirt freshman Alyssa Palomino was named USA Softball Junior Athlete of the Year.
 
CIRCLE IT: After a five-year span in the circle in which Arizona put up a combined ERA north of 3.50 from 2011-15, pitching has returned as Arizona's strength the last two years, coinciding with the arrival of Danielle O'Toole and Taylor McQuillin in 2016. After Arizona finished second in the Pac-12 in ERA last year (2.67), the pitching staff leads the Pac-12 with an 0.84 ERA 41 games into 2017. O'Toole and McQuillin have ERAs of 0.75 and 0.66, respectively. Just one Wildcat has had an ERA under 0.70 for a season in the last 23 years (Jennie Finch, 0.54 in 2001).
 
TOOLE TIME: Danielle O'Toole is 21-1 with a 0.75 ERA. O'Toole, who is third in the NCAA is victories and sixth in ERA, has been named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week twice and was national pitcher of the week after her first career no-hitter vs. No. 6 Washington (3/24) and posting a 0.00 ERA in two starts vs. the Huskies. O'Toole leads the Pac-12 in strikeouts (143).
 
SOMETHING TO HARP ON: Jessie Harper is second in the Pac-12 with 15 home runs in her freshman campaign. In weeks 5 and 6, Harper was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks as well as Pac-12 Player of the Week in week 6. During that two-week 11-game roadtrip, Harper went 18-for-34 (.529) with five doubles, five homers and a 1.177 slugging percentage. For the season, Harper is hitting .368 and has a .816 slugging percentage, second in the Pac-12.
 
MO HITTER: Mo Mercado leads the Wildcats with a .427 batting average and is UA's active leader in career hits (245). At the Mary Nutter Classic in week 3, Mercado went 11-for-13 (.846) with three doubles, a homer, 11 RBI and six runs scored. She was named national and conference player of the week.
 
PERFECTION! In her first start of the season, Michelle Floyd threw the ninth perfect game in Arizona history, retiring all 15 Hartford batters she faced in an 18-0, five-inning Wildcat victory on March 11. She was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week. Floyd has yet to allow an earned run in 12.0 innings this season.
 
SENIOR SALUTE: Arizona eight-player senior class is its largest since the eight seniors in 2001 went out on top, winning the program's sixth NCAA title. In 2017, UA will bid adieu to eight players who have been invaluable to the program. All eight have either been full or part time starters during their time. The octet includes four all-Pac-12 first or second teamers and has played a combined 2,093 games at Arizona, combined for 807 hits, 149 home runs, 587 RBI, 813.0 IP, 741 strikeouts and 90 pitching victories. Here are some notes on each senior's career contributions:

• Nancy Bowling: A 37-game starter in her career in the circle, plus 32 games at first base. Has not lost a pitching decision since her freshman year (16-0 from sophomore year on).
• Alexis Dotson: A 79-game starter since transferring from local Pima College after her sophomore year. Owns a career .314 average and has scored 48 runs.
• Michelle Floyd: Arizona's ace in 2015, a season in which she tallied the most innings pitched (183.2), wins (19) and strikeouts (135) while helping lead Arizona to a 41-win season and a super regional appearance. Threw the ninth perfect game in Arizona history in 2017.
• Katiyana Mauga: On pace to challenge the all-time record in home runs. Has put up single-season home run totals that rank in UA's top-20 in each of her previous three years.
• Mo Mercado: Has started every game (221) of her Arizona career and has put up a .363 average in 675 career at-bats, the most among active Wildcats. Three-time all-region performer.
• Danielle O'Toole: Led the Pac-12 in wins in her first season at Arizona (26) while becoming Arizona's first, first-team all-Pac-12 pitcher since 2010.
• Mandie Perez: A 202-game starter who was named first-team all-conference as a redshirt junior in 2016. Owns a career .340 average and a stellar .436 on-base percentage.
• Eva Watson: Has battled injuries, but led Arizona in batting average in 2016 (.387). Has appeared in 163 games in her career, including 68 starts.

 
FAB FRESHMEN: In addition to Arizona's spectacular senior class, UA's freshmen have been instrumental to Arizona's success as well. The Cats start four freshmen in their usual lineup, Dejah Mulipola (C), Alyssa Palomino (CF), Jessie Harper (1B) and Reyna Carranco (2B). Palomino leads all freshmen in the NCAA in RBI (50), Harper leads all freshmen in the NCAA in home runs (15). Reyna Carranco is second in the league with a .452 average in Pac-12 play and Dejah Mulipola is top-10 in the Pac-12 in runs scored, slugging percentage and RBI.
 
PICK YOUR POISON: Certainly Arizona's offense does have its share of standouts, but the success of the lineup is due to its depth. The Wildcats can score any time in a variety of ways. The five batters in the 2-through-6 holes have combined for 62 home runs. The 8-9-1 hitters in the UA lineup are all getting on base at above .420 clip in Pac-12 play.
 
OVER THE HILL: Arizona has appeared in every NCAA Tournament since 1988, Mike Candrea's second year on campus. That's 30 consecutive years in the tournament for Arizona. Not only is that the longest active streak, but it is seven years longer than the second longest streak. If Arizona makes the NCAA Tournament in 2017, it will be the longest streak in NCAA softball history, breaking Fresno State's inactive 30-year streak.
 
KEEPING IT 100: Arizona has reached the century mark in home runs six times in school history, including two of the last three years and is on pace to do it again this year. Only two other schools (UTSA and Louisiana-Lafayette) have had more than two seasons of 100-plus homers. There have been 26 seasons of 100 home runs or more in NCAA history and Arizona has six of them.
 
BEATING THE BEST: Since 1994, Arizona is above .500 against ranked teams, top-10 teams and top-five competition. UA is 549-244-1 (.700) against ranked competition, 260-162 (.624) against top-10 teams and 128-111 (.549) against top-five teams.
 
HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Arizona was ranked No. 10 in the Preseason NFCA Top 25, its highest preseason ranking since 2012, and picked to finish second in the Pac-12 by the coaches prior to the season, its highest since 2011. Why?

• Arizona returned eight starters, four pitchers and 16 total letterwinners from a 40-win team in 2016. In all, the Cats return 90% of their hits (420-of-465), 91% of their home runs (61-of-67) and 90% of their RBI (268-of-298). Additionally, all four pitchers return from a staff that was second in the Pac-12 in ERA.
• The Wildcats' senior class of eight is its largest in 16 years, when the eight seniors in 2001 went out by winning national championship.
• Those seniors will play a key role in mentoring Arizona's seven-player freshman class. The six true freshmen -- Dejah Mulipola (No. 5 recruit, FloSoftball), Reyna Carranco (No. 16), Jessie Harper (No. 43), Malia Martinez (No. 57), Carli Campbell and Jaycee Lindley -- were rated as the No. 3 recruiting class in the country. Add in redshirt freshman Alyssa Palomino, the 2016 USA Softball Junior Athlete of the Year who missed last season with a torn ACL, and the Wildcats have plenty of fresh talent to go with their experienced core.

 
FOLLOW THE TEAM: Be sure to follow the Wildcats on their various social media platforms. To stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings with the team, follow Arizona softball on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@UA_Softball).
 
UP NEXT: Arizona returns home to host No. 4 Oregon for a three-game series at Hillenbrand Stadium, April 21-13.