Arizona celebrated a victory on Friday night, but the joy of the win didn’t last too long.
Shortly after the Wildcats run-ruled New Mexico State, winning 11-0 in five innings, Arizona announced it would be without one of its best power hitters for the rest of the year.
Alyssa Palomino, a redshirt freshman outfielder, tore the ACL in her left knee and will miss the remainder of the postseason. Palomino injured her knee in practice Wednesday and was initially ruled “day-to-day” and out at least for this weekend’s NCAA regional. An MRI conducted Friday revealed the tear.
The Mission Viejo, California, native was in the dugout for Friday’s game wearing a large knee brace.
Palomino missed all of last season after tearing the ACL in her right knee. This season, Palomino was both an All-Freshman and All-Pac-12 second-team selection after hitting 16 home runs and driving in 54 runs.
UA coach Mike Candrea was asked about Palomino after Friday’s game, but said he hadn’t yet seen the MRI results at that point. The No. 2-seeded Wildcats will face South Carolina on Saturday at 2 p.m.
“I don’t want to comment,” he said. “I’m not a doctor.”
Eva Watson started in Palomino’s place and finished the night 1 for 2 with a run scored. The speedy senior was Arizona’s starter in center field last year and will likely remain in the starting lineup going forward. Watson was hitting just .111 in 18 at-bats this season before Friday with a team-best five stolen bases.
Last year, Watson led the Wildcats with a .387 batting average.
“Unfortunately, you have to move on,” Candrea said. “Luckily this team has someone they can put in the lineup and fill that void. If Eva can get on base for us, then good things can happen.”
Mauga not thinking about home run chase
Every time UA senior Katiyana Mauga hits a home run, she inches closer to another record.
Mauga already was Arizona’s all-time home run leader entering Friday’s game, then she crushed a two-run shot to left-center field against New Mexico State for the 90th long ball of her career.
Mauga is now tied with UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman for the most in Pac-12 history and the second-most in NCAA history. Oklahoma’s Lauren Chamberlain holds the record with 95.
Mauga said the chase is secondary to postseason success.
“Honestly, I really wouldn’t have thought about it because this team keeps you focused on the team more than winning and not focusing on what my personal stat is or what I need to get done for myself,” Mauga said. “I just want to win a national championship.”
South Carolina’s Boesel has career day at the plate
South Carolina has only scored eight or more runs as a team 13 times this season.
Friday night against St. Francis, freshman second baseman Mackenzie Boesel drove in eight runs by herself in a 12-2 run-rule win.
“Nobody had a bigger day than Mackenzie Boesel,” South Carolina coach Beverly Smith said.
How big of a day was it?
Well, Boesel had eight RBIs in her previous 24 games combined and just 10 in her last 35 games.
Boesel finished Friday 3 for 3 with two home runs and a double. The Gamecocks will play Arizona on Saturday.
“I was really just looking for a pitch in the zone and to put a good swing on it to help my team out,” Boesel said. “I hit balls more up in the zone today; I guess I was just able to get more power on it.”
