The Arizona Wildcats had some surprises in the starting lineup for the first game of the rivalry series against Arizona State. They did not bear fruit.
Arizona fell to its in-state rival by a score of 16-5. The game ended after five innings.
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The loss was the third in a row by the run rule by Arizona after losing a doubleheader at Texas Tech, both by the run rule. That streak follows a nine-game run-rule winning streak that concluded with a 9-0, five-inning victory over NiJaree Canady and the red raiders.
freshman right-hander Rylie Holder It started on Friday night. With Anya Wild out for the foreseeable future with a broken bone, junior Tele Jennings He started as a designated player, although Emma Kavanagh He was replaced in the lineup later in the game. freshman infielder Lucas Lucas he was back at first base after having just one plate appearance in last week’s series at Texas Tech.
“Anyssa broke her hand, which confused the PD situation a little bit,” the Arizona head coach said. Caitlin Lowe saying. “We thought Tele was going to be a good matchup. Kez, we wanted to get back there. We’re having guys competing against their best matchup at first base right now. Honestly, I thought Kez did a really good job today, I’m really excited to see that. Yeah, just playing with different things.”
Lowe even took over the first base coaching duties normally performed by the pitching coach. Christian Conrad.
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Arizona pitchers allowed lopsided numbers in each inning, including six home runs. Lowe used support, Jenae Berryand Sarah Wright during that time, but none were effective. The group of three allowed 15 hits, 2 walks and 3 hits. Jalen Adamswho had the best effectiveness of the team heading into the game, did not appear.
Lowe said watching film at ASU led them to believe Holder was the best answer for Friday in a three-game series. He mentioned that Holder did not execute, but “he will be better tomorrow.”
“We really like Rylie against this team,” Lowe said. “I still really like Riley, if he throws his stuff, against this team.”
Things started bad immediately when Kaylee Pond He hit the first pitch to center field immediately. He went 2-for-2 and walked two in the game. In fact, six ASU hitters had at least two hits and the former Wildcat Emily Schepp He went 4 for 4 with two home runs.
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On the other hand, Arizona did not get a hit until the third inning. The Wildcats finished with four hits and three walks, but struck out 10 times.
Strikeouts hurt more when they come after walks. ASU pitcher Kenzie Brown He came in averaging 2.6 bases per game with a 3.10 ERA. Arizona drew more walks than their average, but they couldn’t convert them into runs at a reliable enough rate. Only three of the five runs scored by the Wildcats were earned.
Sidney Stewart He walked to lead off the second, but the next three batters went down due to strikes.
The Wildcats had a little more luck in the third. Lucas got a leadoff ticket. Addison Duke reached by mistake, which also got the pinch runner kiki escobar to third with no outs. Regan Shockey he had one of his two strikeouts for the first out. Sereniti Trice He got a run on a fielder’s choice, but that’s all Arizona could get.
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As happened repeatedly, one step forward for the Wildcat offense meant two steps back when the defense returned to the field. Arizona allowed two runs in the top of the fourth to dig itself into a bigger hole than before.
What’s next for Arizona softball
WHO: ASU Sun Devils (22-7, 2-4) @ No. 13 Arizona Wildcats (21-7, 4-2)
When: Saturday, March 21 at 6 pm MST; Sunday, March 22 at 12 pm MST
Where: Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.
Transmission: ESPN+ (Saturday, Sunday)
Radio: 2:00 p.m. (KTUC)
Statistics: Arizona Live Stats (Saturday, Sunday)
The Wildcats went to the end of the quarter trailing 13-1. Stewart started it all with a single and Grace Jenkins gave Arizona two runners when Brown hit her with a pitch. A strikeout kept both in place, but Sniffen used a single to load the bases with one out.
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ASU’s second error of the game allowed Lucas to reach and score two. Arizona had two in scoring position and still only one out. Duke’s double brought up two more, cutting ASU’s lead to eight.
“It’s just about getting the pitch right and swinging it well, keeping it simple and not making the moment too big,” Duke said. “And just do what I can for the team.”
If Arizona could keep the lead at eight in the top of the fifth and cut it in the bottom half, the game would continue. However, pitching had to step up and put an end to ASU’s endless parade of baserunners.
That didn’t happen. Arizona allowed three home runs in the top of the fifth, including Schepp’s second of the game.
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It was now 16-5 and the Wildcats would have to score four runs for the second consecutive inning just to extend the game. While they have done it several times this year, including against some of the best teams in the game, they were unable to replicate the feat.
Stewart walked to lead off the inning once again. She went to second on a throwing error and to third on a wild pitch, but her teammates couldn’t get her in. Two strikeouts ended the game with the Arizona catcher still standing at third base.
Stewart and Duke had the most offensive success. Stewart went 1 for 1 with 2 walks. She also scored a run. Duke was 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs. He had the only extra-base hit of the game for Arizona.
On Tuesday, Lowe said Wild’s injury is very similar to the one he suffered Carlie Scupin in 2023. He acknowledged that people heal differently from the same injuries, but said Scupin’s absence was a general guideline for how long Wild would be out.
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Scupin was injured on March 15, 2023 and returned on April 28. Wild’s injury occurred on March 14. A similar absence would likely have him back for the final regular-season series May 1-3 at Utah.