Arizona's Season Ends at the Women's College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Arizona Softball saw its 2021 season come to an end at the Women's College World Series, falling 4-3 to Florida State on Saturday afternoon at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. 

The Seminoles hit a walkoff sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to win the game; they scored all four  of their runs in their final four outs of the game.

The heartbreaking loss ended the 2021 season for the Wildcats, finishing with a 41-15 record. The Wildcats saw their season end at the Women's College World Series for the 24th time and second straight. Arizona's 24 WCWS appearances are second most all-time.

The incredible careers of Arizona's seven seniors -- Reyna Carranco, Alyssa Denham, Jessie Harper, Mariah Lopez, Malia Martinez, Dejah Mulipola and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza -- also came to an end on Saturday. The Wildcat senior class, all of whom decided to return to school for an additional year after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season, led Arizona to two WCWS appearances and won over 200 games over their careers.

The Wildcats were in control the entire game, holding Florida State off the scoreboard for the first 5.2 innings. But with two on and two out, Florida State changed the game with a three-run go-ahead home run.

Arizona fought back in the top of the seventh, extending the game with a Reyna Carranco RBI double to tie the game, but the Seminoles walked off with a 4-3 win on Cassidy Davis sacrifice fly.

Arizona grabbed the early lead on a third-inning Malia Martinez home run and added on with a Carlie Scupin sacrficie fly in the fourth. That 2-0 lead stood until the barrage of runs in the sixth and seventh.