Bear Down Wildcats

After a heartbreaking end to last year, the 2018 season is less than 6 weeks away. The team returns some big bats along with new players who will contribute right away. There is also a new coach, former Wildcat pitcher Taryne Mowatt replaces Stacy Iveson, who is now the
Director of Recruiting-Operations.

The big question for this year's team is can Taylor McQuillin replace Danielle O'Toole and become a reliable #1 starter? She has the tools and with TW coaching her, I think she can. There are several players who will be trying to become the #2 pitcher. Transfers Alyssa Denham and Gina Snyder have the most experience and freshmen Hanah Bowen and Taylor Gilmore will also be given a shot.

The offense brings back some big bats with Jessie Harper, Alyssa Palomino and Dejah Mulipola. The outfield will be strong with the return of senior Ashleigh Hughes, transfer Aleah Craighton and freshman Jenna Kean. Freshmen Ivy Davis and Hannah Martinez can play the outfield as well as the infield.

Candrea will play different line-ups during the non-conference season and we should know what the line-up will look like before conference play begins.

Irish27 wrote:After a heartbreaking end to last year, the 2018 season is less than 6 weeks away. The team returns some big bats along with new players who will contribute right away. There is also a new coach, former Wildcat pitcher Taryne Mowatt replaces Stacy Iveson, who is now the
Director of Recruiting-Operations.

The big question for this year's team is can Taylor McQuillin replace Danielle O'Toole and become a reliable #1 starter? She has the tools and with TW coaching her, I think she can. There are several players who will be trying to become the #2 pitcher. Transfers Alyssa Denham and Gina Snyder have the most experience and freshmen Hanah Bowen and Taylor Gilmore will also be given a shot.

The offense brings back some big bats with Jessie Harper, Alyssa Palomino and Dejah Mulipola. The outfield will be strong with the return of senior Ashleigh Hughes, transfer Aleah Craighton and freshman Jenna Kean. Freshmen Ivy Davis and Hannah Martinez can play the outfield as well as the infield.

Candrea will play different line-ups during the non-conference season and we should know what the line-up will look like before conference play begins.

Looks to me like:

C - Mulipola
1st- Palomino
2nd- Caranco
Short- Harper
3rd - open
LF - open
CF - open
RF - Hughes

Comments?

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:After a heartbreaking end to last year, the 2018 season is less than 6 weeks away. The team returns some big bats along with new players who will contribute right away. There is also a new coach, former Wildcat pitcher Taryne Mowatt replaces Stacy Iveson, who is now the
Director of Recruiting-Operations.

The big question for this year's team is can Taylor McQuillin replace Danielle O'Toole and become a reliable #1 starter? She has the tools and with TW coaching her, I think she can. There are several players who will be trying to become the #2 pitcher. Transfers Alyssa Denham and Gina Snyder have the most experience and freshmen Hanah Bowen and Taylor Gilmore will also be given a shot.

The offense brings back some big bats with Jessie Harper, Alyssa Palomino and Dejah Mulipola. The outfield will be strong with the return of senior Ashleigh Hughes, transfer Aleah Craighton and freshman Jenna Kean. Freshmen Ivy Davis and Hannah Martinez can play the outfield as well as the infield.

Candrea will play different line-ups during the non-conference season and we should know what the line-up will look like before conference play begins.

Looks to me like:

C - Mulipola
1st- Palomino
2nd- Caranco
Short- Harper
3rd - open
LF - open
CF - open
RF - Hughes

Comments?

My guess

C - Mulipola
1st/DP - Palomino
2nd - Carranco
3rd - Malia Martinez/Ivy Davis/Peanut Martinez
SS - Harper
LF - Jenna Keane
CF - Aleah Craighton
RF - Hughes
DP/1st - Statman

McQuillin and Alyssa Denham as the rotation for pitchers

Cats win opener 4-1 over Northwestern. Palomino hit a 2-run homer to break a tie in the bottom of the 6th. Next game is tonight at 5:00PM against #24 Oklahoma State.
http://arizonawildcats.com/news/2018/2/ ... 20917.aspx" target="_blank

McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

ChooChooCat wrote:McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

Taylor definitely was shaky and the Cats lose 9-4.

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

Taylor definitely was shaky and the Cats lose 9-4.

I hope we're not pitching challenged this year. C'mon Taryne, show em how it's done.

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

Taylor definitely was shaky and the Cats lose 9-4.

I hope we're not pitching challenged this year. C'mon Taryne, show em how it's done.

Denham looked good yesterday against Northwestern. If Taylor can't get it together then she's a real possibility as the top dog of the pitching order.

ChooChooCat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

Taylor definitely was shaky and the Cats lose 9-4.

I hope we're not pitching challenged this year. C'mon Taryne, show em how it's done.

Denham looked good yesterday against Northwestern. If Taylor can't get it together then she's a real possibility as the top dog of the pitching order.

Thank you. I'm not in Tucson, so I have to rely on others for firsthand information. What position did Palomino play yesterday? Who were the starters by position? Thanks.

MrMeow wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:McQuillin's reign as team's ace is off to a bad start, down 4-0 to Okie State in the bottom of the 1st.

Taylor definitely was shaky and the Cats lose 9-4.

I hope we're not pitching challenged this year. C'mon Taryne, show em how it's done.

Denham looked good yesterday against Northwestern. If Taylor can't get it together then she's a real possibility as the top dog of the pitching order.

Thank you. I'm not in Tucson, so I have to rely on others for firsthand information. What position did Palomino play yesterday? Who were the starters by position? Thanks.

Palomino played first base both games.

Box scores with positions here:

http://arizonawildcats.com/schedule.aspx?path=softball" target="_blank

Cats take both games today, 6-1 over UC Davis and 13-1 over Fresno State.

Cats take the final game of the weekend, beating New Mexico 8-0 in five innings. McQuillin pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11, while only walking one. Harper lead the Cats with two homers and Craighton also hit a home run. Cats play first home game this Thursday against Colorado State.

Irish27 wrote:Cats take the final game of the weekend, beating New Mexico 8-0 in five innings. McQuillin pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11, while only walking one. Harper lead the Cats with two homers and Craighton also hit a home run. Cats play first home game this Thursday against Colorado State.

Looks like Candrea is experimenting with his outfield. No Craighton, Campbell in left, Kean in right, Hughes in center. The absence of Craighton surprises me.

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:Cats take the final game of the weekend, beating New Mexico 8-0 in five innings. McQuillin pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11, while only walking one. Harper lead the Cats with two homers and Craighton also hit a home run. Cats play first home game this Thursday against Colorado State.

Looks like Candrea is experimenting with his outfield. No Craighton, Campbell in left, Kean in right, Hughes in center. The absence of Craighton surprises me.

She played the outfield in every game except against New Mexico, where she was the DH. Candrea will play many players against inferior teams to find out who can contribute off the bench.

Irish27 wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

Irish27 wrote:Cats take the final game of the weekend, beating New Mexico 8-0 in five innings. McQuillin pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11, while only walking one. Harper lead the Cats with two homers and Craighton also hit a home run. Cats play first home game this Thursday against Colorado State.

Looks like Candrea is experimenting with his outfield. No Craighton, Campbell in left, Kean in right, Hughes in center. The absence of Craighton surprises me.

She played the outfield in every game except against New Mexico, where she was the DH. Candrea will play many players against inferior teams to find out who can contribute off the bench.

Yeah at this point DP seems to be open, although it certainly appears that Kean is being given every opportunity to lock that spot down. Campbell has completely taken me by surprise, I didn't expect her to start every game and then perform as well as she has. Would really like to see some offensive production out of 3B, but it's still early, Malia Martinez appears to be solid on defense at least. I do wonder if Ivy Davis can make a move and take the reigns at 3B though. Our 1-6 hitters are absolute perfection, just every thing you want from a top of the lineup down to the middle. Just a matter of figuring out the 7 spot and the DP spot. I think I'd like to see Campbell bat in the 9 hole as she's doing great at getting on base.

The Cats win all four of their games this weekend, winning 3-0 over Colorado State and Bryant. McQuillin pitched a one-hitter, striking out 12 in the win over Colorado State. Taylor also pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 11 in the 2-1 win over Montana. Also, Hanah Bowen pitched a one-hitter, striking out 8 in the 14-0 win over Bryant.

Cats beat #4 and defending National Champion Oklahoma 2-0 as McQuillin pitches a one-hitter. The Cats won all five games this week.

I see McQuillin has a 1.06 ERA. She's been dominant. Has Taryne been instrumental in that?

Denham had a real bad week, hopefully we get her fixed soon. McQuillin is destroying every one in her way though.

Hoping for a nice UCLA-Arizona showdown this year.

What happened that they cancelled the games on the 15th and 16th of February?

Edit: Nevermind, I found the report... rain.

#9 Cats beat host Texas 2-0 behind a 2-hit shutout by Taylor McQuillin. Aleah Craighton drove in both runs.

Cats win the rubber match against Texas, 10-2. McQuillin pitched 6 shutout innings, striking out 9. Malia Martinez hit her first homer and drove in 5 runs.

Cats win game 1 against South Carolina Upstate 3-0. McQuillan pitched.

We're out in the bleachers for game 2 against Wisky. Beautiful Tucson day for a ballgame.

Cats up 6-2 top of the 4th. Denham in the circle.

Dejah hits one to the back row of the bleachers. 9-2 Cats top of 6. 15 hits already

Cats win 9-3. Play USC Upstate again tomorrow to close out the invitational.

Cats beat SC Upstate 9-1 today to finish 6-0 this weekend. They improved their record to 21-2 with one more non-conference game against Minnesota on Wednesday before conference season begins Friday.

The girls gave up a tough one to Minnesota last night and lost 1-0 in 8 innings. Alyssa Denham pitched a gem of a game, but she just didn't get any help from the bats, which has certainly been an uncharacteristic issue for the team this year.

Cats sweep Utah to start conference play 3-0.

The saving grace of the athletic department right now. With that said they play a series at Washington who is undefeated and is the #1 team in the nation this upcoming weekend.

ChooChooCat wrote:The saving grace of the athletic department right now. With that said they play a series at Washington who is undefeated and is the #1 team in the nation this upcoming weekend.

And UW is probably looking for some revenge after the ass kicking we gave them last year. Big weekend ahead.

The saving grace of PAC 12 Network is I can watch the softball games. I need to see some winning.

Cats lose the first two games to #1 Washington in heartbreaking fashion. They were leading both games but Washington came back and won both games in extra innings. Hopefully they can win the final game today.

Irish27 wrote:Cats lose the first two games to #1 Washington in heartbreaking fashion. They were leading both games but Washington came back and won both games in extra innings. Hopefully they can win the final game today.

First game was one out away from a win, this second game was Baylor redux. Denham was dealing and then after getting a 1 run lead Candrea decides to put in McQuillin to close the game and she gives up a homer. Stick with a hot hand Candrea, come on!

Need to rebound strong after getting swept at UW.

PieceOfMeat wrote:Need to rebound strong after getting swept at UW.

Arizona should've went 2-1 up in Seattle. Pretty salty about it honestly.

Girls swept Cal at home, now they head to Eugene to play the 5th ranked Ducks for a 3 game set.

Nice sweep. Need to take 2 of 3 next week. Also, hopefully Reyna Carranco will be back for the UCLA series in a few weeks.

Irish27 wrote:Nice sweep. Need to take 2 of 3 next week. Also, hopefully Reyna Carranco will be back for the UCLA series in a few weeks.

Reportedly, Reyna will be back at practice next week.

Also Alyssa Denham needs to be starting game 2 of each series from this point on. The girl has earned it.

ChooChooCat wrote:Also Alyssa Denham needs to be starting game 2 of each series from this point on. The girl has earned it.

Denham is a nice pitcher but I can see Candrea going with Taylor most of the games. Oregon has taken the first 2 games and is up 2-0 in the third. Tough to play both those teams on the road.

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:Also Alyssa Denham needs to be starting game 2 of each series from this point on. The girl has earned it.

Denham is a nice pitcher but I can see Candrea going with Taylor most of the games. Oregon has taken the first 2 games and is up 2-0 in the third. Tough to play both those teams on the road.

Man that wasn't even a series, that was an absolute best down the girls just received.

ChooChooCat wrote:

Irish27 wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:Also Alyssa Denham needs to be starting game 2 of each series from this point on. The girl has earned it.

Denham is a nice pitcher but I can see Candrea going with Taylor most of the games. Oregon has taken the first 2 games and is up 2-0 in the third. Tough to play both those teams on the road.

Man that wasn't even a series, that was an absolute best down the girls just received.

It doesn't get any easier, #3 UCLA visits and then they have to go to #7 asu.

Ladies up 2-1 bottom of the 4th on UCLA. Dejah on 3rd no outs.

Game on ESPNU.

UAEebs86 wrote:Ladies up 2-1 bottom of the 4th on UCLA. Dejah on 3rd no outs.

Game on ESPNU.

lost it 7-6.

le sigh

Arizona's pitching has never been the same since Nancy Evans was forced out. Still do not know the story why.

ALASKACAT wrote:Arizona's pitching has never been the same since Nancy Evans was forced out. Still do not know the story why.

There's people here who know but won't tell.

UAEebs86 wrote:

ALASKACAT wrote:Arizona's pitching has never been the same since Nancy Evans was forced out. Still do not know the story why.

There's people here who know but won't tell.

I know the story, and all I will say is she was not forced out. The reason was/is clear cut, not controversial in the least. The administration had no choice. Her own damned fault and it is obviously a big loss.