The Arizona Wildcats survived three errors, losing and regaining
the lead in the sixth inning of a 2-1 victory today at Hillenbrand
Stadium.
TUCSON, ARIZ.
The Arizona Wildcats survived three errors, losing and regaining the lead in the sixth inning of a 2-1 victory today at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Lini Koria singled home the decisive run – Brigette Del Ponte, who had doubled – with one out in the penultimate inning.
With the win, the Wildcats entered Saturday needing to only win one of two games to advance to the Women’s College World Series.
Ace freshman Kenzie Fowler was effective, if unspectacular.
She didn’t pitch an easy inning all day, allowing a baserunner in each frame.
The Wildcats struck first, in the first. With one out, Lauren Schutzler and K’Lee Arredondo each reached on bunt singles to third base. After Stacie Chambers moved Schutzler to third on a flyout to right, Brigette Del Ponte blooped a full count pitch to left.
BYU shortstop J.C. Clayton and left fielder Andrea Ramirez collided on what was likely the left fielder’s ball, and the ball fell to the ground. Schutzler scored.
The Cougars threatened in the third and fourth.
With two outs in the third, Clayton punched a double over the head of Brittany Lastrapes, who was playing maybe 15 steps behind the shortstop.
Fowler got Angeline Quiocho to ground out to end the inning, marking the second time in three frames the nation’s home run and RBI per game leader left a runner in scoring position.
The Cougars rallied in the fourth inning because of UA mistakes. With one out, Caschjen Davis-Atagi grounded to Brigette Del Ponte, who committed her second error of the game by pulling first baseman Baillie Kirker off the bag.
Fowler hit the next batter, Jessica Purcell-Fitu, and gave up a bloop single to Delaney Willard to load the bases.
With one away, Amanda Vance-Kellum bounced into a force play, cutting the runner down at home. Jessica Dugas struck out looking to end the inning.
Fowler’s luck ran out in the sixth.
BYU’s Alexandrea Hudson, who entered the game when Caschjen Davis-Atagi was hurt in the fourth, walked to lead off the sixth, and moved to second on a bunt. Tiffany Messerschmidt ran for her.
Delaney Willard then singled softly to right field, and Kristen Arriola rifled home. The throw beat Messerschmidt and Chambers tagged her, but the ball kicked out of her glove on contact. The Cougars tied the game, and Willard went to second.
Fowler struck out the next two batters.
BYU led off the seventh with a single. Quiocho came to bat with one out and a runner on first, but swung through a high, hard pitch for the second out. Ramirez popped to second to end the game.
Clayton, a 2009 San Benito High School graduate, had two hits and reached base three times, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
