When Rylee Pierce was shopping around for a different softball program, she was aware of the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry, but she didnโt really know just how intense it could get.
The Missouri transfer was just looking for a fun program to end her career. It seems Pierce has found just that โ while helping No. 11 Arizona to a three-game, dominating sweep of the No. 17 Sun Devils.
The Wildcats (27-7, 9-0 Pac-12) completed their third consecutive conference sweep with Sundayโs 2-0 win at Hillenbrand Stadium. The UA outscored ASU 18-0 during the three games, winning 8-0, 8-0 and 2-0.
โIโd never wore an Arizona jersey, so I didnโt understand what it was like to feel it and to feel all the emotions and all the excitement that come with it,โ Pierce said. โOver the course of the last three days, obviously itโs been really, really fun to see and feel.โ
Although it wasnโt a run-rule victory like the first two games, Arizona posted the first shutout sweep since the conference moved to three-game series in 2010, and its first ever against the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils entered the series as the nationโs top scoring team (9.12 runs per game) and No. 1 home run team (1.94 per game). Instead, ace Taylor McQuillin only allowed two hits Sunday, for a total of six ASU hits over the weekend.
โWe didnโt just beat them,โ Pierce said. โWe came and made a statement. I think it showed our teamโs fight and our attack mentality.โ
Pierce drove in both of the Wildcatsโ runs.
Her single to left field in the fourth scored Malia Martinez, who drew a walk during her at-bat. Then, in the sixth inning, Pierce hit her sixth home run of the season to make it 2-0.
โHonestly, I just keep it simple and work for my team,โ Pierce said.
The Sun Devils had a couple of chances to score, but were unsuccessful.
Arizona State got in scoring position in the third inning on a double by Bella Loomis, who was left stranded. In the next inning, Jade Gortarez reached first on an error by Martinez, but was caught stealing second by catcher Dejah Mulipola.
The Sun Devils managed to get two runners on base in the seventh โ on a walk and a single โ but three consecutive pop-ups got McQuillin out of the jam.
McQuillin said the 10-pitch walk was a result of the Sun Devils not wanting to give up and fight through their at-bats. The hit, however, was just a missed pitch.
Arizonaโs ace finished with seven strikeouts, two hits and two walks in seven innings.
โIt kind of made me realize โHey, I can use my defense. My defense is behind me โ Iโm not by myself in this situation,โโ McQuillin said. โThatโs how we got three pop-ups, and thatโs the win.โ
Coach Mike Candrea was very pleased with his teamโs performance over the weekend, especially the fact that they didnโt give up any runs.
Offensively, the bats struggled in the early innings, but Arizona was able to turn it around.
โToday we hit about seven balls right at people and couldnโt find a hole, but we did what we had to to win,โ Candrea said. โItโs always a good victory.โ
Inside pitch
- Reyna Carracoโs career-best 15-game hitting streak came to an end Sunday. The second baseman was walked during her first at bat and then went 0 for 2 with two fly balls to the outfield.
- UA hosts UTEP for a nonconference doubleheader at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with the second game slated for a 4 p.m. start.
