Leaving the training facility, Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea asked pitcher Hanah Bowen if she wanted to throw any live batting practice.
Of course, Bowen offered to do whatever was needed.
That was right after the redshirt junior polished off one of her best starts of the season, a complete-game 3-2 victory over Utah on Sunday afternoon at Hillenbrand. She totaled 18β innings for the calendar week.
βSheβs a true competitor,β Candrea said. βWhat youβre seeing right now is just a lot of hard work, a kid thatβs really dedicated to the game. One who not only plays the game with a lot of passion, but throughout the week, works with a lot of passion.β
Bowenβs biggest moment came with the bases loaded and the score tied 1-1 in the third inning.
With her defense looking vulnerable for the first time, the utility-player-turned-key-pitcher burned a pitch by Destiny Quiles. From 67 miles per hour on the previous pitch, Bowen slowed it down to 56. Quiles popped up the changeup and ended the inning.
In that moment, and for most of Sunday, Bowen didnβt look like a typical innings-eating gap-filler. She looked like an everyday starter, someone who can go toe-to-toe in a pitcherβs duel and emerge victorious.
βIt shows how much of a fighter she is,β catcher Dejah Mulipola said. βShe grinds throughout the week and she thrives in moments like that when we need her to be competitive.β
Sure, Bowen has had some big moments before, carrying a .346 batting average over 16 games last spring and delivering a walk-off single to beat Oregon State earlier this season. But with Taylor McQuillin starring when Bowen first arrived and the Alyssa Denham-Mariah Lopez tandem dominating last spring, her pitching hasnβt been an integral part of the team.
It is now. Entering the final inning, nursing a one-run lead, Bowen closed the door, striking out back-to-back batters and getting a pop out to center to complete the four-game sweep. Her 1.51 ERA leads the team.
βIf you watch her in the circle, sheβs very active, very connected to her defense,β Candrea said. βShe does some things that are pretty special. Not that our other pitchers arenβt like that, but she has a different personality. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment that really helps.β
Arizonaβs defense was nearly impeccable behind her.
Shortstop Jessie Harper turned two double plays and Janelle Meono made a running grab in foul territory in left field.
After 11 home runs in the first two days of the series, the Arizona offense had to do its damage inside the park Sunday. Dejah Mulipola delivered the eventual game-winning run with a double to right field, recording her 45th RBI of the season
Candrea singled out Reyna Carranco, who also had an RBI, as the player who most impressed him this weekend. She went 10 for 15 at the plate, having returned from a thumb injury earlier this month.
Arizona (31-8, 9-5 Pac-12) stays in Tucson to host California in a four-game series, starting Friday. At least, it hopes that will be the case. Cal hasnβt played since April 11 due to COVID-19 issues.
βIβm hoping right now that theyβre done with their quarantine and hopefully things will be good next week,β Candrea said.
Arizona's remaining regular-season schedule
Friday, April 30: Cal at Arizona, 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 1: Cal at Arizona, 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 1: Cal at Arizona, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 2: Cal at Arizona, noon
Friday, May 7: Arizona at Oregon, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 8: Arizona at Oregon, 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 8: Arizona at Oregon, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 9: Arizona at Oregon, noon
Thursday, May 13: UCLA at Arizona, 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 14: UCLA at Arizona, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14: UCLA at Arizona, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 15: UCLA at Arizona, 1 p.m.
