Going into Sunday, the University of Arizona softball knew it wasn’t going to be easy to get a sweep of Utah.
Sweeps in Pac-12 play are always difficult, especially against a pitcher like Utes senior Katie Donovan, who is the conference’s active leader in career wins (64), strikeouts (521) and saves (13).
The No. 9-ranked Wildcats were more than up to the challenge, winning 10-3 on Sunday at Hillenbrand Stadium to improve to 24-3 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play.
Arizona beat Donovan for the second time in three days, after winning 4-1 in the series opener Friday.
“Sunday is always a challenge in a three-game series,” said UA coach Mike Candrea. “Today we swung the bats, which you need to do on Sunday. The key was not chasing off-speed pitches. It’s all about adjustments ... If you chase everything you probably get yourself out.”
UA certainly adjusted in the fourth inning, clubbing six hits and driving in seven runs. For the Wildcats, it’s all about their motto: passing the bat or getting the next batter a shot.
“When we do get going it’s like a spark to a fire,” said Dejah Mulipola, who went 2 for 4, slugging a three-run homer in the sixth. “It’s exciting to see that even if you don’t get a hit, the next person up to bat is ready for their turn.”
The Wildcats had a little extra motivation to sweep this weekend, as Mulipola pointed out they lost last year at Utah so they wanted to take this series on their home field.
Wildcat ace Taylor McQuillin (16-1) was her usual dominant self, striking out seven and allowing only one earned run. She leads the nation in wins and now has a 0.75 ERA.
Friday night, she gave up only three hits and Saturday night in relief she struck out four of the nine batters she faced.
“Shaky starts come from letting the game get quick on us,” McQuillin said. “You come out and maintain composure and take it one bat at a time. We focus on where we are at; keep the tunnel vision to here and now.
“(After my teammates put up seven runs) I wanted to work harder. It’s like ‘wow, you guys just did that for me, I have to do it for you.’ Our offense did a great job this weekend.”
It was all about that fourth inning. Saturday the Wildcats put up five runs and Sunday they brought home seven in a nearly 30-minute inning.
The Wildcats also kept it going in the sixth, scoring three more, including Mulipola’s three-run shot over the left-center wall — her second homer in two days. Mulipola has eight homers and 26 RBIs on the season.
“Dejah is a very good player,” said Candrea. “She works hard and has fabulous tools. If she was a guy, you’d say she was a bonus baby. She’s a catcher who can hit and throw. We knew we had someone special when we got Dejah.”
In the fourth, down 3-0, Mulipola hit a single and was brought in on a double to center by sophomore Malia Martinez (4 for 4) — her 16th RBI of the year. Aleah Craighton followed with a walk.
That forced Utah to replace Donovan with Miranda Viramontes, who pitched Saturday, and was rocked in a five-run fourth inning. The Wildcats jumped all over her Sunday as well.
Designated player Joelle Krist hit a shot to center to drive in Martinez for UA’s second run of the game. Hilary Edior pinch-hit for Carli Campbell. While she was at-bat, Viramontes threw a wild pitch and both runners advanced a base.
Edior hit a squib near home plate to load the bases. Ivy Davis, pinch-hitting for Ashleigh Hughes, struck out for the first out of the inning.
That brought up Alyssa Palomino who worked the at-bat and then doubled into deep right field to put UA up for good at 4-3. Donovan, who was charged with three earned runs, came back in the game at this point.
Reyna Carranco hit a sacrifice fly to score Edior as the Wildcats went up 5-3.
And, the inning wasn’t over yet. Jessie Harper (3 for 4) wanted in on the action and she slugged a two-run homer to center, giving her a team-leading 10 home runs and 31 RBIs.
“We get hot where we get hot,” said Harper. “One through nine were awesome today and I got more at-bats.”
Utah scored one run in the first on a double down the left-field line by Heather Bowen to bring in Alyssa Barrera, who reached on a single to center. The Utes tacked on two more in the third, with Barrera and Kelly Martinez scoring.
Next weekend the Wildcats head to Seattle to face No. 1 Washington. The first game is Friday at 5 p.m. on Pac-12 Arizona.
