Late Homers Hand Arizona First Home Loss
 
TUCSON, Ariz. -- No. 6 Oregon hit two solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning, erasing Arizona's late lead to avoid its first Pac-12 sweep since 2011. The Ducks won Sunday's series finale, 4-3.
 
Oregon was limited to just four at-bats with runners in scoring position, and was 0-4 in those situations, but the Ducks hit three home runs for the second straight game. UA outhit Oregon in the game, 6-5.
 
The loss was Arizona's first at home in 2017 and first in the last 26 games at Hillenbrand Stadium.
 
Danielle O'Toole took the loss to fall to 24-3 on the year. The senior allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk. O'Toole was rock solid through five innings before giving up two homers in the sixth. Taylor McQuillin pitched the final 1.1 innings of the game, retiring four of the five batters she faced.
 
Alyssa Palomino went 2-for-3 with a double and her 15th home run of the season to lead the Wildcat offense.
 
Mo Mercado gave Arizona the early lead with a two-out single in the bottom of the first.
 
Both teams hit leadoff homers in the second to maintain Arizona's one-run advantage.
 
In the third, the Wildcats' defense committed two errors, leading to an unearned Oregon run to tie the game.
 
Alyssa Palomino led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, her second extra-base hit of the game. Palomino moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Reyna Carranco's fifth hit of the series.
 
Oregon tied the game on a solo homer in the sixth and took the lead two batters later on another homer.
 
The Cats got the tying run into scoring position in the seventh, but could not score to extend the game.
 
Up Next: Senior day is on tap for the Wildcats as UA welcomes Arizona State for a three-game series Friday-Sunday in the final regular season action at Hillenbrand Season this year.
 
Follow Arizona Softball: For further coverage of Arizona softball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team's Twitter and Instagram accounts (@UA_Softball).