UA-BYU Super Regional blog: Cats hold on to win Game 1
by Anthony Gimino on May. 28, 2010, under SportsArizona got the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, as Lini Koria singled sharply to center to drive in Brigette Del Ponte, who had doubled down the right-field line in the previous at-bat. That gave the Cats a 2-1 lead, with pitcher Kenzie Fowler needing to retire the top of the BYU order in the seventh to preserve the victory.
After allowing a leadoff single, Fowler got a force out at second, a strikeout and a popout to second baseman to end the game.
Arizona leads the best-of-three series 1-0, with Game 2 set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hillenbrand Stadium. A third game, if necessary, will follow.
Check back later for postgame coverage from Game 1 … and here it is:
‘Stable’ Fowler feels good as Cats take Game 1 of Super Regional
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BYU has been putting pressure on Arizona ace Kenzie Fowler all game, and the Cougars finally break through to tie the game at 1 in the top of the sixth.
Fowler didn’t help by walking the leadoff hitter, Alexandra Hudson, who went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Delaney Willard followed with a hit down the right-field line, and Hudson motored around third base. The throw from right fielder Karissa Buchanan appeared to have Hudson beat, but she slid in head first, touching the plate with her left hand, as the ball popped out of the glove of catcher Stacie Chambers on the tag.
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Another great escape for Arizona. BYU, on an error, a hit by pitch, and a single, loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth. Kenzie Fowler got Amanda Vance-Kellum to hit into a fielder’s choice to third base, with Arizona getting the out at home. Fowler then struck out Jessica Dugas looking to end the inning. Arizona leads 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.
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Arizona didn’t exactly crush the ball, but the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Lauren Schutzler reached base with one out on a bunt that died near home plate. K’Lee Arredondo followed by pushing a bunt past the charging third baseman. With two outs, Brigette Del Ponte blooped a pop-up into short left field.
Left fielder Caschjen Davis-Atagi was playing deep, respecting Del Ponte’s power, and couldn’t quite come in to make the play. The same was true for shortstop J.C. Clayton, who went back but couldn’t come up with the catch. The ball fell for a double as Schutzler scored.
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Arizona and pitcher Kenzie Fowler dodges some trouble in the top of the first inning. A one-out two-base throwing error by third baseman Brigette Del Ponte put BYU’s J.C. Clayton in scoring position. Fowler then struck out one of the nation’s top sluggers, Angeline Quiocho (28 homers) on an off-speed pitch.
Clayton went to third on a wild pitch, but Fowler then struck out BYU’s other top slugger, Andrea Ramirez, with some high heat.
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The first game of the best-of-three NCAA Super regional between Arizona and BYU is about to begin at Hillenbrand Stadium, but already there is a bit of news.
The winner of this series advances to the Women’s College World Series to play the winner of the Michigan-Tennessee Super Regional, which was completed Friday afternoon. The Vols, seeded 15th in the tournament, upset the second-host Wolverines in two games. On paper, at least, that seems to be a benefit to the winner of the Arizona-BYU series.
