UA sweeps second doubleheader in as many days at Wildcat Invitational

For the second time as many days, the Arizona softball team swept a doubleheader at the Wildcat Invitational.

The UA started its Saturday by blanking No. 24 South Carolina-Upstate 3-0. The Wildcats then posted a season-high 15 hits in a 9-2 win against Wisconsin. It’s an encouraging finish to non-conference play for Arizona, which is 20-2 heading into Sunday’s Wildcat Invitational finale against South Carolina-Upstate. The Cats will face Minnesota on March 14 before opening Pac-12 play.

UA coach Mike Candrea said the team still has plenty to work on before reaching that portion of the schedule. The Wildcats are ranked No. 9 nationally, but trail top-ranked Washington, No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Washington in the latest USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ poll. Arizona State is ranked No. 14, and Cal is 17th.

“I think this team sometimes doesn’t feel the urgency of where we’re at right now,” Candrea said, citing the upcoming schedule. “We’ve got to realize: From here on out, it’s going to be a battle every time we walk out on the field.”

Saturday’s sweep started with a highlight-reel play. UA center fielder Aleah Craighton ran to the Hillenbrand Stadium wall, leapt and robbed the game’s third batter of what would’ve been a home run. That play set the tone for the remainder of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Dejah Mulipola hit an RBI single to give Arizona its first run. Malia Martinez then belted her third home run of the season to add two insurance runs.

“I was really excited,” Martinez said of her two-run blast. “I usually don’t know if it’s a home run or not. So, I just kind of hope and then I hear it.”

The Wildcats found their offensive spark in Game 2 against Wisconsin.

Arizona trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the first when Alyssa Palomino and Reyna Carranco singled and Craighton walked. Mulipola then hit a single to bring in the first two runners and tie the game.

Craighton and Mulipola were both on base in the third inning when Martinez hit a double to get both runners in for a 4-2 lead. Martinez was brought in one batter later, when Hillary Edior hit a double of her own.

One single and one out later, the Badgers walked Palomino intentionally to load the bases. But then Carranco walked, too, giving the Wildcats a four-run lead.

Arizona bookended its flashy start with a great finish. UA shortstop Jessie Harper dove to her left to snatch a Wisconsin liner in the seventh inning, ending the game.

While Harper had a couple of uncharacteristic errors Saturday — she waited too long on a ground ball and dropped a pop-up — Candrea said he was pretty happy with the team’s defense.

“We have to play good defense,” Candrea said. “Look at good teams; it’s good pitching, good defense, timely hitting. So it’s something that we work on a lot.”

Leading off

Ashleigh Hughes and Tamara Statman have both missed their last five games because of the flu. Candrea had to re-think the lineup with his two table-setters out.

Candrea looked at on-base percentages and used that information to help decide who’ll bat where in the order.

“Palomino has a pretty high on-base percentage, so I said, ‘What the hell? Let’s put her in the lead-off spot,’” Candrea said. “Plus, she can start games off like she did this weekend, with a bang.”

Palomino, who had previously been batting in the No. 4 spot, provided one of the four hits against South Carolina-Upstate and went 3 for 3 with two runs against Wisconsin.

The redshirt sophomore is hitting .500 this season.

The Mulipola spark

A single from Mulipola started the scoring in both games Saturday.

In Game 1, Mulipola singled in the third brought to score Reyna Carranco, who had reached base on a single of her own. Against Wisconsin, the catcher ripped a single to score Alyssa Palomino and Carranco, tying the game 2-2 in the first inning.

“I’ve been in a little bit of a slump lately, but I was trying to keep it simple, score some runs and get the ball moving for our offense,” Mulipola said.

The sophomore catcher has provided some stability to the middle of the order.

Mulipola went a combined 4 for 6 on Saturday, and is hitting .359 as a sophomore.

“I think any lineup is subject to change. The one thing you have to do is ride the hot streaks and the not streaks,” Candrea said. “So, sometimes, just by moving things around, sometimes it kind of gets you kick-started.”

Harper’s woes

Harper was hitting .483 with six home runs as recently as three weeks ago.

Since her hot start, things have slowed down.

Harper has managed just three hits in 16 at-bats during the Wildcat Invitational. Her batting average has dipped to a season-low .361.

“Everyone has a little rough patch, and I will admit it’s been rough,” Harper said.

Candrea said Harper’s pressing right now, but he’s certain she’ll turn it around soon

“Everyone comes out of it, everyone goes in it, but I’m hoping to come out of it soon,” Harper said. “Right now, I’m just relying on my teammates.”

In the circle

Ace Taylor McQuillin pitched a complete-game shutout against South Carolina-Upstate, allowing just four hits. McQuillin struck out nine.

Alyssa Denham pitched Game 2. The sophomore transfer struck out a season-high seven in seven innings. She allowed seven hits and three earned runs.

Four of the hits came in the first inning, when the Badgers took the early 2-0 lead. Denham said the early struggles didn’t bother her.

“I would say there was only one quality hit, so it didn’t really affect me that much,” Denham said. “When they’re bloopers, I know I’m doing my job on the pitching side. We can’t do anything about bloopers.”