UA softball: Wildcats beat Auburn, move one win away from WCWS

AUBURN, Ala. — The Arizona Wildcats are one win away from the Women's College World Series.

Arizona upset 4th-seed Auburn Saturday in a 5-3 win that rarely saw the ball leave the infield for the Wildcats on offense.

The Wildcats took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, and Auburn made a late comeback attempt, starting with a leadoff home run from Jade Rhodes off UA pitcher Danielle O'Toole (26-10). O'Toole, who hadn't allowed an earned run yet to that point, was able to close out the game, and the win.

If Arizona wins Sunday, it will be off to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2010. The first game will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, followed by an (if necessary) game three shortly after. 

The Wildcats offense was aided by Eva Watson, their speedy centerfielder batting ninth. 

Watson led off the third inning with an infield single, advanced to second on a Mandie Perez single, to third on an Ashleigh Hughes groundout and then home on a Mo Mercado groundout. 

She was back at it again in the fifth inning, the Wildcats trailing 2-1, after she was walked. She scored a run after advancing on a Perez groundout, Hughes single and a Mercado RBI.

Arizona broke out in the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out for Perez, who was hit by a pitch to score one run. Arizona scored another on a fielding error and a third on a fielder's choice to take a 3-run lead. Watson scored the last run, her third of the night. 

In the third inning, some field trouble got the better of the Wildcats. To start, right fielder Alexis Dotson misjudged a ball at the warning track, leading to a M. Gipson double. After O’Toole hit W. Jordan with a pitch and a groundout, a costly 2-error play scored two runs for the Tigers.

First, a ball hit by Tiffany Howard went under the glove of shortstop Mo Mercado, then centerfielder Eva Watson overthrew the ball to catcher Lauren Young, leaving Howard at third. 

O’Toole was able to get ou of the inning after tagging Cooper in a rundown and forcing a flyout of Carlee Wallace, and Arizona’s pitcher wasn’t dinged with any earned runs that inning. 

The Wildcats and Tigers will play again Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN. Arizona can advance with a win; if Auburn wins Game 2, the teams will play a winner-take-all Game 3 at 2 p.m.; that game is scheduled for ESPNU.