It was opposite day at Hillenbrand Stadium.
At least, that’s what it felt like on Thursday night.
This iteration of Arizona softball is famously a hot-hitting squad, best known for its ability to hit the long ball, and an inability to find consistent pitching.
On Thursday, against the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks, it was quite the opposite — the bats went quiet, and outside of a tough first inning, Arizona pitcher Michelle Floyd did her best Cheridan Hawkins impression.
The sophomore starter shut the Ducks down from innings two through seven, holding them to three hits and no runs in that span. Oregon had four of its hits — and all of its runs — in the first inning.
It didn’t matter in the end, though — Oregon won 3-0.
Hawkins, of course, is Oregon’s star pitcher, and the Pac-12 leader in wins and ERA, who took the circle for the Ducks on Thursday. As she does, the junior (26-3)shut down the Wildcats bats — these are bats that lead the Pac-12 in both batting average and home runs.
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Arizona (37-16, 11-8 Pac-12) didn’t get its first hit until the third inning when freshman Ashleigh Hughes — who had just 20 hits on the season coming in — had a single after a Lauren Young walk.
This was the first time Arizona would threaten to score but it was all for naught after both Chelsea Suitos and Hallie Wilson popped out.
Kellie Fox hit what looked like a bomb to center field, and had it cleared the wall it would’ve scored three runs, but the center field wall is 220 feet out — Fox’s hit went about 219. Just missed.
The real scoring threat for Arizona came in the sixth inning, though, as the Wildcats put two batters on base — Chelsea Suitos on a walk, and Kellie Fox was hit by a pitch — with zero outs. Then UA slugger Katiyana Mauga — tied for the Pac-12 lead in home runs with 22 — flew out to center, Chelsea Goodacre popped out to third base and designated player Mandie Perez struck out to end the inning.
Arizona had just two hits through six innings, with the first five batters in its daunting line-up — Wilson, Suitos, Fox, Mauga and Goodacre — going a combined 0 for 12 with two strikeouts against Hawkins.
Had it been Fox’s 14th home run instead of a third out, the game might’ve looked quite different, as the Wildcats would’ve tied the game.
Oregon’s three runs came in the first inning after Nikki Udria led off with a double and Jenna Lilley drove her home with Lilley’s sixth home run of the season. The Ducks scored another run after two singles, one with an RBI from Geri Ann Glasco.
The Wildcats had their second hit in the fifth inning on a Mo Mercado single, but three outs later, the score remained 3-0.
Through six innings, Hawkins stat line was impressive — two hits, zero runs, five strikeouts and two walks.
Arizona will return to celebrate its “Senior Day” on Friday after the Wildcats face the Ducks (45-5, 20-2) again at 4 p.m. at Hillenbrand.
