TUCSON, Ariz. -- No. 9 Arizona defeated No. 24 USC Upstate 3-0 and Wisconsin 9-3 to remain perfect at the Wildcat Invitational and improve to 20-2 on the season.
The Wildcats and the Spartans conclude the event on Sunday at 1 p.m. MST at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Game 1: #9 Arizona 3, #24 USC Upstate 0
Taylor McQuillin struck out eight in her second shutout of a ranked opponent of the season and eighth overall, leading the Cats past No. 24 USC Upstate, 3-0 in Saturday's first game.
McQuillin outdueled USC Upstate starter Caylie Van Auken. Both pitchers gave up just four hits in the game.
Two-out RBI from
Dejah Mulipola and
Malia Martinez proved to be the difference in the contest. Mulipola opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Martinez followed that with a homer, her third home run in UA's last five games. That three-run fourth would be all McQuillin would need.
The junior pitcher improved to 14-1 on the season while Arizona improved to 19-2.
In the top of the first, inning,
Aleah Craighton took a home run away from USC Upstate's Karla Beasley, reaching over the left-centerfield fence to rob the home run and keep the game tied.
The 0- 0 tie would last until the bottom of the fourth.
Reyna Carranco singled and stole second to start the inning. She was there with two out when
Dejah Mulipola grounded a single through the left side to plate Carranco and give the Cats the lead. The next batter,
Malia Martinez, homered off the batter's eye in center field to give UA a 3-0 lead.
Game 2: #9 Arizona 9, Wisconsin 3
Arizona scattered a season-high 15 hits, including five extra-base knocks to come back from an early deficit and sweep the day with a 9-3 victory over Wisconsin to stay perfect at the Wildcat Invitational.
Dejah Mulipola led the offensive attack with three hits, including her fifth home run of the season. She had a team-best four RBI.
Alyssa Palomino kept up her hot streak, putting together her third, three-hit game in her last six outings. Her 3-for-3 effort raised her batting average to an even .500 on the year.
Malia Martinez extended her carer-long hitting streak in style. She had a two-run double, one of her two hits in the contest.
Reyna Carranco and
Hillary Edior also turned in two-hit affairs as well.
The offensive support was plenty for
Alyssa Denham (3-0), who fell victim to some softly hit Badger singles to put the Cats in an early 2-0 hole. On the day, Denham struck out seven in the complete-game effort. She allowed three total runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter.
Wisconsin used four bloop singles to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Arizona responded with two runs in the home half to tie the game up.
Alyssa Palomino and
Reyna Carranco led off the inning with singles and
Aleah Craighton worked an 11-pitch walk to load the bases for
Dejah Mulipola, who singled in a pair up the middle.
Arizona started the bottom of the third with five straight hits, including three doubles.
Malia Martinez plated two with her double and then scored on
Hillary Edior's two-bagger to put the Cats up 5-2.
Reyna Carranco later drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Cats up 6-2 after three.
In the fifth,
Jessie Harper posted an RBI double and
Dejah Mulipola homered her home to give UA a 9-2 advantage. Wisconsin put a run on the scoreboard in the seventh.
