Arizona run-rules Omaha to finish 5-1 at Bear Down Fiesta

Playing in more competitive games following the opening weekend, the Arizona Wildcats nearly finished perfect again, going 5-1 in the Bear Down Fiesta.

The Wildcats’ weekend included four five-inning run-rules victories, two shutouts and an upset win over a top-15 team.

“(It’s) just good to be in those tight games and feel a little bit of pressure, see how the team responds,” Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe said following the 8-0 run-rule victory over Omaha on Sunday.

Suffering its first loss of the season on Saturday against No. 15 Arkansas may have been a blessing in disguise for the Wildcats, with Lowe noting that the team responding after not doing what they wanted to do is a recipe for success down the line.

“I think that’s a sign of good teams — as long as you’re learning from those moments when you’re not executing, then I think we’re in good shape and we continue to get better throughout the year,” Lowe said.

The Wildcats’ weekend was highlighted by freshman center fielder Regan Shockey, who stole home off an Arkansas wild pitch following a strikeout for a 3-2 upset victory on Friday.

“That whole process, in general, is just to do everything possible to create a team win, so everything was for the team, and that’s what I feel like I can do, and it was all for them,” Shockey said following the walkoff win against the Razorbacks.

Shockey led the Wildcats (10-1) throughout the weekend, logging 11 hits in 16 at-bats.

“That’s what Regan does,” Lowe said. “I think the first week, she was a little frustrated at not swinging at her pitches and staying within her game. She got rolling there in the nine-hole and when she’s on, she’s creating chaos.”

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The UA pitching staff once again showed up and showed out throughout the event, throwing two shutouts.

Aissa Silva anchored the Wildcats’ pitching staff, earning wins in her starts against the Razorbacks and Omaha. Silva finished with four strikeouts and two earned runs hits in 11⅓ innings.

Silva, who finished with a 2-3 record and 6.17 ERA last season as a freshman, has appeared to improve in her second season as a Wildcat, starting the season with a 5-0 record and a 0.69 ERA. The sophomore Tucson native said her increased maturity, getting older and added trust with her teammates from last season to this year has given her more strength to her game.

Still down to four pitchers, the lack of depth has given Silva, Miranda Stoddard, Brooke Mannon and Ali Blanchard more of a leadership role in the pitching staff.

“(We) do what we need to do (within) the changes in the game and just know that it’s gonna work out no matter what,” Silva said.

Lowe mentioned Sunday that sophomore pitcher Sydney Somerndike, who dressed for the game against Omaha, is cleared to start activity and that she has been throwing. She does not have a timeline on Somerndike’s return.

“She has not done a lot of activity so we will see on that,” Lowe said. “But it was very encouraging to see her in uniform and see her spinning and I know she felt good after the three days that she did it, so all promising things.”

Thus far this season, the Wildcats have recorded six shutouts, nine run-rules and eight five-inning run-rules and will look to continue this trend as the season progresses.

“Our whole thing this season is being aggressive,” Shockey said. “ ... I think our team does a great job at that and just showing in the game what we do in practice.”

Arizona will host Drake, Indiana, Marshall and Central Michigan from Thursday through Sunday in the 28th annual Hillenbrand Invitational.