TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Arizona completed its 5-0 sweep of the Easton Crimson Classic, with a 9-1, six-inning victory over UT Arlington on Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
The victory was tainted by a scary medical situation. A collision at home plate between a UT Arlington runner and Arizona catcher
Sharlize Palacios sent Palacios to the hospital in the top of the second inning. She was later released and will travel back on Sunday evening with the team. She will undergo further testing in Tucson.
The Wildcats scored their nine runs in the final four innings of the game, coming back from an early 1-0 deficit to win the game. The Cats had six extra-base hits in the game, including home runs from
Hannah Martinez and
Jessie Harper in the win.
Harper went 3-for-3 with three RBI in the game.
Izzy Pacho, who entered the game for Palacios in the second inning, went 2-or-3 with three RBI off the bench.
Alyssa Denham earned the win in relief, holding UT Arlington without a hit in her 4.0 scoreless innings. She fanned four and walked one in the win. She improved to 7-1 on the season. Denham replaced
Hanah Bowen, who allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks in two innings. It was Bowen's second start of the year.
The Wildcats improved to 17-3 on the season with their five-game sweep of the Easton Crimson Classic. After two consecutive weekends on the road, Arizona will now return home for eight straight games, beginning with next weekend's Wildcat Invitational (March 6-8).
UT Arlington used a solo home run to get on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning.
In the top of the second, with runners at first and second, UT Arlington centerfielder Reagan Hukill singled to left. This resulted in a play at home plate and a collision between the Maverick runner and UA catcher
Sharlize Palacios, who was injured on the play. Palacios was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for a potential neck injury, but had movement in her extremities and gave a thumbs up as she was stretchered off.
The play runner was ruled to have obstructed Palacios' opportunity to catch the throw, negating the run.
Arizona plated two runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Cats loaded the bases with nobody out and used an RBI fielder's choice from
Izzy Pacho to tie the game and then a sacrifice fly by
Hanah Bowen to take the lead.
The Cats broke it open in the bottom of the fourth.
Hannah Martinez led off the inning with her first home run of the season and third extra-base hits in the last two games. After walks to
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and
Reyna Carranco,
Jessie Harper hit a double to right field to plate two runs. Pacho followed with a rocket that bounced off the centerfield wall and came back into play for a long RBI single to score Harper and put the Cats on top, 6-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats plated three runs to walk off with the win. Three straight extra-base hits, a Harper homer,
Malia Martinez double and
Izzy Pacho RBI double gave the Cats an 8-1 lead, before Bowen ended the game with an RBI single to score Pacho, the games winning run.
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