The Arizona softball team swept a pair of games in the Candrea Classic on Friday, and one of them featured a historic achievement.
Freshman Brooke Mannon and senior Ali Blanchard combined to pitch a five-inning perfect game as Arizona defeated Lipscomb 8-0 in the first game at Hillenbrand Stadium.
It was the 10th perfect game — and first combined effort — in school history.
Mannon, in her collegiate debut, struck out five batters in four innings. Blanchard got the final three outs.
Carlie Scupin and Emily Schepp each drove in a pair of runs — Scupin via a homer and Schepp via a double. Blaise Biringer went 2 for 2 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI.
Arizona also won the second game by an 8-0 count in five innings, this time over North Texas.
Miranda Stoddard and Aissa Silva combined for a two-hit shoutout. Both struck out three, and neither walked a batter.
Oliva DiNardo provided most of the offense, going 2 for 3 with five RBIs, including a grand slam in the third inning that gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
Dakota Kennedy went 3 for 4.
Arizona has outscored its opponents 25-1 through three games.
The UA is slated to face North Texas again at 4 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting.
Arizona senior second baseman Allie Skaggs on how the Wildcats can get back to where they belong (the postseason), some youngsters to watch and what it meant to win a Gold Glove (video by Michael Lev / Arizona Daily Star)
Photos: Day Two of the Candrea Classic, University of Arizona softball
Lipscomb's catcher Jack Busch (22) slaps the tag on Arizona's Kaiah Altmeyer (24) inches short of the plate and stopping the game ending run on Jasmine Perezchica’s fielder’s choice in the fifth inning on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024. The Wildcats eventually got their run-rule eighth score on a Bison wild pitch moments later.
Arizona's left fielder Dakota Kennedy (4) goes horizontal to nab a sinking liner in the gap from Lipscomb's Brenna Sherman (00) and end the Bison fourth in their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's runner Regan Shockey (25) gets into third with a stolen base as North Texas's shortstop Cierra Simon (9) misses the tag in the third inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's first baseman Carlie Scupin (20) beats the throw from second to North Texas's first baseman Kailey Gamble (23) spoiling a double play and keeping the Wildcat half of the fourth inning alive on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's Dakota Kennedy (4) gets the high-fives after slapping the game ending RBI single against North Texas in the fifth inning of their 8-0 win on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's head coach Caitlin Lowe awaits the pre-game meeting at home plate as the Wildcats get ready to take on Lipscomb for their first game of the night on Day 2 of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson on Feb. 9, 2024.
Arizona's third baseman Blaise Biringer (30) takes the high hopping grounder from Lipscomb's Katelyn Belding at the start of the Bison half of the second inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Lipscomb's center fielder Elle Smith (43) can’t get to the shot off the wall from Arizona's Emily Schepp (00) that drove in the Wildcats’ first two runs of the night in the second inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona starting pitcher Brooke Mannon deals in the third inning against Lipscomb on Day Two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.
Arizona's third baseman Blaise Biringer (30) has to range well into the shortstop’s hole to track down a pop-up by Lipscomb batter Jack Busch (22) in the third inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's starting pitcher Ali Blanchard (17) cranks a throw against Lipscomb on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's Logan Cole (23) rips an RBI single up the middle and off Lipscomb second baseman Josey Polk’s (8) glove in the fifth inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's shortstopTayler Biehl (2) gets a good bounce on a grounder from North Texas batter Tatum Sparks (24) in the second inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's right fielder Jasmine Perezchica (21) gets a drive to the wall from North Texas batter Rylee Nicholson (5) in the third inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's batter Regan Shockey (25) awaits a pitch during the Wildcats’ second game of the night against North Texas at the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's shortstop Tayler Biehl (2)) gestures back to catcher Emily Schepp (00) after her pinpoint throw nailed North Texas's Cierra Simon (9) on a stolen base attempt in the third inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's pinch hitter Paige Dimler (22) celebrates her double against North Texas that put two Wildcats in scoring position in the third inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's relief pitcher Aissa Silva (3) eyes the plate as she throws against North Texas in the fourth inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's centerfielder Regan Shockey (25) races down a screamer into the left field gap by North Texas's Tatum Sparks (24) in the fifth inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
Arizona's first baseman Carlie Scupin (20) gets a slow roller to retire North Texas's batter Rylee Nicholson (5) to retire the Bison in the fifth inning of their game on day two of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., February 9, 2024.
