TUCSON, Ariz. -- Ashleigh Hughes hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, ending a pitchers' duel between Taylor McQuillin and Cal's Kamalani Dung, which took two extra innings to settle.

Hughes' ninth-inning homer, which fell in and out of Cal left fielder Bradie Fillmore's glove, popping over the wall to end the game, gave the Wildcats a 3-2 victory. The home run was the senior's third of 2018 and sixth of her career. Hughes went 2-for-5 in the game. She was moved into the leadoff spot in the game after going 3-for-3 with three stolen bases on Thursday.

The home run was one of nine hits for the Cats and one of two long balls for the Cats. Alyssa Palomino hit her 10th home run of the season in the first inning. Jenna Kean had UA's third RBI of the game, her third RBI of the series.

Taylor McQuillin, who threw a one-hit shutout last night, was dominant once again in the circle. She allowed two runs, both unearned, on seven hits. She struck out a season-high-tying 12 while walking three in the game. McQuillin improved to 18-4 on the season; her 18 wins lead the country.

The game was Arizona's fourth extra-inning affair in its last nine games. All four have been decided by one run; this was Arizona's first victory in such contests. UA improved to 26-6, 5-3 Pac-12 on the season. Cal fell to 24-10, 1-7 Pac-12. UA will go for the series sweep on Sunday at noon.

Alyssa Palomino gave the Cats the early lead with her 10th home run two batters into the bottom of the first inning.

In the second, singles by Tamara Statman and Carli Campbell put runners on the corners for Jenna Kean, who plated her third run of the series, reaching on a fielder's choice.

Cal took advantage of a pair of Wildcat errors in the third to tie the game with a pair of unearned runs.

The pitchers traded zeros, pitching in and out of trouble, until Ashleigh Hughes led off the bottom of the ninth with her third home run of the season, a walkoff homer that fell in and out of the left fielder's glove at the fence.

Up next: Arizona will look to sweep the Bears on Saturday at noon.

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