Devyn Netz was a central figure in helping Arizona softball finish 3-2 at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this past weekend.
But it’s the Ohtani-esque way Netz did it that stood out — enough so to earn her the Pac-12 and D1Softball.com Player of the Week awards.
Netz started three of Arizona’s five games at the showcase against host Arkansas and Drake, pitching 162/3 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out nine. She allowed five earned runs in the circle.
Arizona starting pitcher Devyn Netz gives a yell after striking out a Long Beach State batter to retire the side in the third inning of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium on Feb. 10, 2023.
At the plate, Netz powered the Wildcats with four home runs and 10 RBIs over the five-game set. She was 4 of 14 — all four hits round-trippers.
Netz and Arizona are back home this week for a one-game midweek matchup with Cal-State Bakersfield — moved up to 4 p.m. Wednesday because of impending inclement weather — then over the weekend for the Hillenbrand Invitational, a showcase featuring the Wildcats, Nebraska, Weber State, Texas A&M-Commerce and Cal-State Northridge.
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The Hillenbrand Invitational runs Friday through Sunday, with play starting Friday at 4 p.m. against Weber State, immediately followed by a game against Texas A&M-Commerce at 6 p.m.
Arizona, which went 5-0 its last time at home in the season-opening Candrea Classic event, has been on the road since, seeing mixed results the last two weeks. The Wildcats went 2-3 at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational, falling to No. 6 Florida State, but defeating No. 8 Virginia Tech in the process. Arizona then went 3-2 in Fayetteville overall, taking both matchups against Drake, but going 1-2 vs. No. 7 Arkansas.
Arizona, now 10-5 on the year, has been paced offensively by Blaise Biringer out of the leadoff spot. Biringer has started all 15 games and is batting .426 with 17 RBIs, good for second on the team behind Carlie Scupin’s 19. Scupin is hitting .364, while she and Netz are tied for the team high with five home runs apiece.
In the circle, Netz is 5-4 but with a 1.91 ERA seeing the most action against Arizona’s tougher opponents. She has four complete games and earned her lone save in relief by pitching a perfect seventh inning in Arizona’s 5-2 win over the Razorbacks on Feb. 23 — a game that also saw her hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to turn a 2-0 Arkansas advantage into a 3-2 Arizona lead the Wildcats wouldn’t relinquish.
Arizona softball coach Caitlin Lowe and infielder Tayler Biehl discuss the Wildcats hitting the road for the first time this season after going 5-0 at home last week in the season-opening Candrea Classic. During a session with local media Feb. 14, Lowe and Biehl also discuss Arizona manufacturing runs in methods other than hitting the long ball. Video by Devin Homer, Special to the Arizona Daily Star
At the Arizona softball team's recent preseason media day, UA players discuss expectations this season, while head coach Caitlin Lowe shares here thoughts on the identity of her 2023 Wildcat team and how the transfer portal is impacting the sport. Video by Devin Homer/Special to the Arizona Daily Star
