# #

Mulipola Homers Twice in UA's 8-0 Win at USF

by arizonawildcats.com
Mar 7, 2021

TAMPA, Fla. -- No. 2 Arizona won its 23rd straight game, finishing off a two-game sweep of USF with an 8-0, five-inning win at South Florida on Sunday afternoon at USF Softball Stadium.

For the second straight game vs. USF, Arizona hit three home runs, all in the fourth and fifth innings, with Dejah Mulipola hitting home runs five and six on the season and driving in half of UA's runs in the game. Sharlize Palacios homered again for the Cats, her second in as many days and fourth of the season.

The Cats and the Bulls were in a pitchers' duel between a pair of Wildcat pitchers -- Mariah Lopez and Alyssa Denham -- and back-to-back AAC Pitcher of the Week Georgina Corrick, until the Wildcats plated five runs in the fourth and three in the third to quickly turn the pitcher-domination to a run-rule win for the Cats. Arizona is 12-0 with 10 of its wins coming via the mercy rule.

Lopez and Denham teamed up for the two-hit shutout for the Wildcats in the circle. The duo combined to strike out 10 Bulls and allowed just one ball to leave the infield all game. Lopez went 2.1 innings and did not allow a run on just one hit, but struggled with command. The senior walked six and struck out four in the start. She was relieved by Denham in the bottom of the third; Denham allowed two base runners (an infield hit and a walk) over 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out six of the nine batters she faced. Denham improved to 6-0 with the win.

Offensively, the Cats got off to a slow start, failing to score in the first three innings, and stranding eight runners in the process.

In the fourth, Arizona's bats came alive, using an RBI double from Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza to open the scoring. Palomino-Cardoza then scored on a Jessie Harper single before Dejah Mulipola's two-run homer to put the Cats up 4-0. Sharlize Palacios followed with a homer to put a five-spot on the board for Arizona.

UA added three more in the fifth. Palomino-Cardoza brought home Allie Skaggs, who doubled to start the inning, on a sacrifice fly. Mulipola's second homer of the game put the Cats up 8-0 after five.

Arizona's sweep of South Florida crosses off one of four opponents on its current Florida road trip. UA will continue the trip on Monday at No. 22 UCF at 1 p.m. MST before facing Florida A&M and Florida State in Tallahassee later in the week.

CAT CLICKS
2021 Schedule
Arizona Softball Virtual Press Box
 
FOLLOW @ARIZONASOFTBALL
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Related News & Videos