Friday, March 16
Tucson, Ariz.
7:00 PM
University of Arizona
21-3, 1-0
4
vs
1
Utah
14-7, 0-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 1 |
Harper's Clutch Homer Leads Cats in Pac-12 Opener
03/16/2018 | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jessie Harper hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie and leading the ninth-ranked Wildcats to a 4-1 victory in the Pac-12 opener over Utah.
Harper's homer was one of six UA hits on the night and served as the big blow in what was a pitchers' duel between aces Taylor McQuillin and Katie Donovan.
The teams traded runs in the third inning to get the scoring going. Utah scored in the top half on a sacrifice fly while UA responded in the bottom half with a Reyna Carranco RBI groundout.
In the fifth, Donovan retired the first two Wildcats before a walk to Alyssa Palomino kicked off a two-out rally. Reyna Carranco followed with a single up the middle. Jessie Harper then lifted a three-run homer to left to put the Cats on top, 4-1. It was Harper's team-leading ninth of 2018.
McQuillin was her usual dominant self, allowing just three Utah hits in the complete-game victory. McQuillin struck out three and walked two. She picked up her NCAA-leading 15th win.
Donovan (9-2) allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings. She was relieved by Hailey Hilburn, who gave up a hit but no runs in the sixth inning.
Alyssa Palomino went 2-for-2 at the plate, bringing her average to .500 on the season. Malia Martinez had two hits as well (2-for-3), while Carranco and Harper had the other two Wildcat hits.
UA improved to 22-3, 1-0 Pac-12 while Utah fell to 14-8, 0-1 Pac-12.
Up next: Arizona and Utah continue the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
Follow the Wildcats: Be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@ArizonaSoftball) to keep up with the team.
Harper's homer was one of six UA hits on the night and served as the big blow in what was a pitchers' duel between aces Taylor McQuillin and Katie Donovan.
The teams traded runs in the third inning to get the scoring going. Utah scored in the top half on a sacrifice fly while UA responded in the bottom half with a Reyna Carranco RBI groundout.
In the fifth, Donovan retired the first two Wildcats before a walk to Alyssa Palomino kicked off a two-out rally. Reyna Carranco followed with a single up the middle. Jessie Harper then lifted a three-run homer to left to put the Cats on top, 4-1. It was Harper's team-leading ninth of 2018.
SEE YA! Jessie Harper with a three-run homer and @ArizonaSoftball leads 4-1.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 17, 2018
Watch #Pac12SB live on the app: https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa pic.twitter.com/nspccpmgHL
McQuillin was her usual dominant self, allowing just three Utah hits in the complete-game victory. McQuillin struck out three and walked two. She picked up her NCAA-leading 15th win.
Donovan (9-2) allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings. She was relieved by Hailey Hilburn, who gave up a hit but no runs in the sixth inning.
Alyssa Palomino went 2-for-2 at the plate, bringing her average to .500 on the season. Malia Martinez had two hits as well (2-for-3), while Carranco and Harper had the other two Wildcat hits.
UA improved to 22-3, 1-0 Pac-12 while Utah fell to 14-8, 0-1 Pac-12.
Up next: Arizona and Utah continue the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
Follow the Wildcats: Be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@ArizonaSoftball) to keep up with the team.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: McQuillin, Taylor (15-1)
L: Katie Donovan (9-2)
Batting:
2B: Heather Bowen 1
RBI: Heather Bowen 1
SF: Heather Bowen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Julia Noskin 1
HBP: BreOnna Castaneda 1
Batting:
2B: Palomino-Cardoza, Alyssa 1
HR: Harper, Jessie 1
RBI: Carranco, Reyna 1 ; Harper, Jessie 3
SH: Edior, Hillary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Palomino-Cardoza, Alyssa 1 ; Lindley, Jaycee 1 ; Carranco, Reyna 1 ; Harper, Jessie 1
CS: Mulipola, Dejah 1
HBP: Edior, Hillary 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
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