Photos: Arizona softball opens 2024 season with a 9-1 run-rule win over Utah Tech
The Wildcats get their 2024 season going with a 9-1 win over the visiting Trailblazers at Hillenbrand Stadium in the first game of the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's Regan Shockey (25) twists her way past the lunging tag from Utah Tech's catcher Rachel Campbell (7) in the bottom of the fourth inning trying to score the second run on an RBI single by Dakota Kennedy in the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024. Campbell eventually tagged out Shockey but the Wildcats plated four in the inning.
The throw from third is too tall for Utah Tech's first baseman Oaklee Trapp (22) and Arizona's Regan Shockey (25) reaches on the error in the third inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's Dakota Kennedy (4) gets hit by a pitch but was ruled to have been over the plate and was charged a strike in the in the third inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium in the first game of the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Utah Tech's catcher Rachel Campbell (7) finally delivers the tag on Arizona's Regan Shockey (25) after a chase around plate in the bottom of the fourth inning in the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Utah Tech's third baseman Drew McKown (33) can’t get a glove on the throw as Arizona's Blaise Biringer (30) slides into the bag in the fifth inning on a single by Emily Schepp in the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024. Biringer ended up scoring on the error what turned out to be the final run in Arizona’s run-rule 9-1 win.
Arizona's Carlie Scupin (20) watches her solo homer clear the centerfield fence, tying the score at 1-1 against Utah Tech in the first inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's starter Miranda Stoddard (11) deals from the circle in the second inning against Utah Tech at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Utah Tech's Sadie Gardner (9) manages to just avoid the tag from Arizona's shortstop Tayler Biehl (2) and swipe second in the third inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's second baseman Allie Skaggs (9) gets a generous hop to throw out Utah Tech's Laura Lockard (25) in the fourth inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's centerfielder Regan Shockey (25) is driven to the warning track on a shot to the gap from Utah Tech's LB Kahahawai-Kekona (8) in the fourth inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's second baseman Allie Skaggs (9) ranges into centerfield to track down a blooper Utah Tech's Rachel Campbell (7) in the fourth inning to retire the Trailblazers during the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's shortstop Tayler Biehl (2) tracks down a grounder from Utah Tech's Drew McKown (33) in the fifth inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Utah Tech's center fielder LB Kahahawai-Kekona (8) runs down a bloop fly by Arizona's Allie Skaggs (9) in the fourth inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's shortstop Tayler Biehl (2) gloves a high-hopper from Utah Tech batter Sadie Gardner (9) in the fifth inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's Aissa Silva delivers in relief in the fifth inning against Utah Tech in the opener of the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium on Feb. 8.
Arizona's shortstop Tayler Biehl (2) slaps the tag on Utah Tech's Baylee Howley (37) as she fails to steal second in the first inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Arizona's third baseman Blaise Biringer (30) fires to first toss out Utah Tech's Drew McKown (33) in the second inning of the Wildcats’ season opener at Hillenbrand Stadium for the Candrea Classic, Tucson, Ariz., February 8, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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