Monday, April 28, 2014 • Page 7
SPORTS SOFTBALL
Editor: James Kelley sports@wildcat.arizona.edu (520) 621-2956 twitter.com/wildcatsports
BASEBALL
Arizona punishes ball, Utes in sweep
DEVILS’ DELIGHT
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W TENNIS PLAYERS FALL IN PAC-12 FINAL EIGHT
BY ROBERTO PAYNE The Daily Wildcat
Offense was the name of the game as the Arizona softball team swept a three-game series against Utah this weekend behind a multitude of home runs and improved their home record to 27-0. After a Game One blowout, Utah (23-24, 5-15 Pac-12) kept the next two games close by nearly matching Arizona’s offense. The Utes came into the series with the third-worst record in the Pac-12 Conference but played much better than might be expected. Utah scored 11 runs over three games and likely would have stolen a game or two had Arizona not hit 13 home runs over the series. The Wildcats increased their NCAA lead in team home runs to 92. “We were talking about it this morning, actually talking about how many we hit,” junior catcher Chelsea Goodacre said. “It’s crazy because we hit so many home runs and still continue to go up with the same plan.” Of the three games, Saturday’s game produced the most fireworks and even a couple program records. Four Arizona batters hit a home run in the game, including three home runs coming off the bat of freshman Katiyana Mauga. Mauga’s three home runs tied the Arizona single game record for most home runs in a game by an individual player. In addition, the team’s eight home runs broke the Arizona record for most team home runs in a single game. The previous record was seven home runs and was set by the 2004 Arizona squad. “I’m just here to play softball and do whatever I can,” Mauga said. “If that means tying records, then that means tying records.” Arizona (39-9, 12-6 Pac-12) played its most recent game Sunday and saw the offense come alive once again. However, Arizona head coach Mike Candrea was clearly concerned about the pitching staff. Candrea pulled starting pitcher Nancy Bowling after only 0.2 innings after she walked four batters, allowed three runs and only retired two batters. Candrea said he’s frustrated that
SOFTBALL, 8
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FOOTBALL GETS BIG COMMIT
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CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNEY INVITES RICH ROD CECILIA ALVAREZ/THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA FRESHMAN utility player Bobby Dalbec reacts in disgust as ASU junior infielder Drew Stankiewicz celebrates an RBI double during Arizona’s 7-0 loss against ASU at Hi Corbett Field on Saturday. The Wildcats lost the season and Pac-12 series to the Sun Devils.
ASU takes season series from Arizona, though Wildcats manage to avoid being swept and second to score sophomore outfielders Zach Gibbons and Scott Kingery. “[The double] was crucial,” head coach Andy Despite losing the series after dropping Friday Lopez said. “Ironically, right before that, I turned and Saturday’s games, Arizona baseball snapped its to one of my assistants and said, ‘God, when was five-game losing streak on Sunday evening with a the last time we hit a ball in the gap with people 6-1 triumph over rival ASU at home. in scoring position?’ It was a big one for him and Arizona went it was a big one for 8-for-22 (.364) with the club.” God, when was the last time we hit a runners on base, Hoard, who only ball in the gap with people in scoring 4-for-12 (.333) started 12 games with runners in this season, teed off position? — Andy Lopez, head coach scoring position against Gillies (1-4), and 16-for-28 (.571) and in addition to in advancement the two-RBI double opportunities. in the first, collected a single in the third inning. It The Wildcats swung the bats well and quickly was his first career multi-hit game and the first in jumped on ASU’s Darin Gillies to take an early 2-0 which he had recorded more than one RBI. lead over the Sun Devils. “[Sunday night] I was a little bit more relaxed In the first inning, Arizona freshman designated at the plate,” Hoard said. “Get my pitches, get my hitter Michael Hoard hit a double to the left-center BASEBALL, 8 power alley with two outs and runners on first BY EVAN ROSENFELD The Daily Wildcat
UPCOMING SCHEDULE BASEBALL Friday: at Oregon
SOFTBALL Friday: at Washington
TRACK & FIELD Saturday: Double dual (Tucson)
WOMEN’S TENNIS NCAA tournament: TBA
WOMEN’S GOLF NCAA tournament: TBA
SAND VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S GOLF
Wildcats close inaugural season with 4-1 victory came when Arizona had to forfeit at the No. 5 position. The Daily Wildcat “It was great that we ended Initially, it did not look likely the day on a positive note with a that Arizona sand volleyball win,” Rhoades said. “The weather would finish the season at home played a huge factor, though, as we had a rough time adjusting to on a high note. The Wildcats had trouble the crazy wind from earlier in the adjusting to windy conditions day.” Despite poor conditions, head that caused them to start sluggishly. However, after getting coach Steve Walker said the a few plays under their belt, the Wildcats did a good job adjusting Wildcats were competitive in their shot-making, setting and each match against No. 1 USC attacking. The results might have been different if (22-1) and then the players had later against It was great had a different Boise State (4-7). mindset after the Arizona (8that we ended USC defeat. 12) lost its third the day on a “We had one match of the positive note more game to end season against with a win. on a high note, the Trojans and our players 5-0, but junior — Rachel Rhoades, did not want to Rachel Rhoades junior focus on the loss,” said the squad is Rhoades said. “It more confident was tough to move now that it can play with the more prestigious forward as our coach got on us, programs heading into the off- as he should, but we buckled down and bounced back by season. “The USC brand might be playing well.” With Arizona’s inaugural intimidating from the start,” Rhoades said, “but after seeing season now behind it, many of them so many times, we’re no the players will be encouraged longer scared of playing them by Walker to participate in “open anymore. We’re only a few event” matches to improve in mistakes away from pulling out their game. “More exposure in sand a win.” Arizona soundly beat Boise conditions will benefit our greatly, and that State 4-1. The lone pairs defeat players
NCAA tournament: TBA
MEN’S RUGBY May 10: DI-AA College Semi-finals
NUMBER OF THE DAY
42
ASU baseball beat Arizona 7-0 on Saturday night to record its first shutout win in Tucson in 42 years. The last time the Sun Devils held the Wildcats scoreless in Tucson was May 11, 1972. Arizona is 241-215 all-time against its arch rivals.
BY TYLER KECKEISEN
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TWEET TO NOTE Just got a shoutout on our flight from the flight attendant and a full applause from the plane. Back to AZ now , thanks @ USAirways
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ARIZONA JUNIOR Madi Kingdon serves the ball during Arizona’s 4-1 win over Boise State at the sand volleyball courts on Saturday. The Wildcats closed their first season with a win over the Broncos, despite windy conditions.
experience will get them more used to the different environments we played in this season,” Walker said. “The games are not club, but the competitive play will keep the players in shape and eating well.” Arizona only managed to win three of its last 12 matches, but given it is the team’s first season, Walker said he was pleased with the progress his players made and the character they showed. “We endured lots of trials and
tribulations when scratching and crawling to get a win,” Walker said. “Effort was typically there, and even when the circumstances were not in our favor, we always kept competing with our skills getting a lot better each week.”
—@CoachDuffy_ , Sean Duffy, Arizona men’s rugby head coach
The Wildcats beat Stanford 27-24 on the road to advance to the Emirates Airline USA Rugby Division I-AA College final four. Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/wildcatsports
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