For the 24th time in school history, the Arizona softball program is going to the Women’s College World Series.
The Wildcats fended off SEC Champion Arkansas for the second consecutive day in the Fayateville Super Regional to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City. Behind a big home run from fifth-year senior Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza on her birthday, the Wildcats were able to secure the 4-1 victory.
After Arkansas took a 1-0 lead, Palomino-Cardoza had a blast in the bottom of the fifth inning to put Arizona on top and give the Wildcats a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Then in the bottom of the sixth, the Cats added insurance courtesy of a two-run RBI single from freshman Tucson High School product Carlie Sculpin. Pitcher Alyssa Denham, who threw a complete game and recorded four strikeouts, picked up the final three outs in the seventh.
On Friday in game one, Arizona took down the Razorbacks with their high-powered offense, dropping 10 runs in a 10-4 victory. After an eight-year drought, this is Arizona’s second consecutive Women’s College World Series appearance under legendary head coach Mike Candrea.
The Wildcats have not lost a game thus far in the postseason, as they won both matchups against Arkansas and swept their Tucson Regional last weekend.
They now have a date with another SEC foe when Arizona will take on third-seeded Alabama in OKC. A time and date has yet to be determined, but the WCWS begins on Thursday, June 3.
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