TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 11 Arizona softball run-ruled 17th-ranked Arizona State for the second straight night, clinching its fourth straight series win over the Sun Devils with an 8-0, five-inning win on Saturday night in front of 2,921 fans at Hillenbrand Stadium.
The 2,921 fans, the sixth largest crowd in Hillenbrand Stadium history and biggest since March 26, 2004, witnessed an Arizona pitcher throw a two-hit shutout against the nation's top offense for the second consecutive night. On Saturday night, it was Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week
Alyssa Denham (8-2), fresh off her no-hitter last weekend against Oregon State, holding the Sun Devils to two hits in her second straight shutout. Denham struck four and walked three in the victory. Denham is the only qualified pitcher in the Pac-12 to not have allowed an earned run in conference play.
In game 1, the Wildcats used the long ball to mercy the Sun Devils, collecting just four hits, three of them homers, in the win. On Saturday, the Cats scattered 10 hits to score their eight runs. They didn't ditch the long ball from their repertoire, though, as
Hannah Martinez and
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza both homered in the game. Martinez's was the first of her young career.
UA now has five home runs in the series, by five different players. ASU, the NCAA leader in home runs, has four total hits in the series (all singles). Tonight, Arizona re-took the NCAA lead in home runs/game (1.88) from Arizona State, though the Sun Devils still lead in total home runs (64-62).
Arizona's series win marks its fourth straight series win vs. its rivals from Tempe. On Sunday, the Cats will go for their first sweep of the Sun Devils (25-10, 5-3 Pac-12) since 2009. Games 1 and 2 of this series mark the first time since a doubleheader on April 22, 1995 that UA has run-ruled ASU in two straight games.
The Wildcats improved to 26-7 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Pac-12 play. The eight-game winning streak ties the longest of the season for the Wildcats. Arizona's 8-0 start in Pac-12 play marks just the fourth time in its storied history, joining 2017 (13-0), 2004 (9-0) and 1994 (23-0).
Palomino-Cardoza broke out of a three-game hitless streak, her longest hitless streak since her freshman year, with a 3-for-3 outing at the plate including her 11th home run of the season.
Reyna Carranco also posted a multi-hit game for the Cats, her team-best 19th of the season and 47th of her career. Carranco extended her hitting streak to 15 games and upped her team-high average to .464 on the season.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom 1: The Wildcats took the lead four batters into the game when
Dejah Mulipola singled home
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and
Reyna Carranco. Later in the inning,
Rylee Pierce scored
Jessie Harper with a two-out single to put a three-spot on the scoreboard for Arizona in the first. (3-0, UA)
Bottom 2: Jessie Harper added to her team-best RBI total, picking up No. 41 on a sacrifice fly to add to the UA lead in the second. (4-0, UA)
Bottom 3: Arizona used a couple of two-run home runs in the third to grab an 8-0 lead.
Hannah Martinez rocketed her first career home run to right to get the home run party started and then two batters later
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza blasted her 11th of the season off the batter's eye in center. (8-0, UA)
UP NEXT
Arizona will try to sweep Arizona State on Sunday at 4 p.m. MST in a game televised by ESPN 2.
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