No. 21 Arizona strands 11 in loss to No. 22 Oregon

No. 21 Arizona had a chance to secure its first series win over a ranked team this season but couldn’t get the timely hits. The Wildcats left 11 runners on base against No. 22 Oregon in a 5-2 loss.

“It is completely the story,” said Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe.

After starter Miranda Stoddard and reliever Ali Blanchard gave up a combined five runs in the first two innings, Aissa Silva entered the game and kept the Ducks from putting any more on the board.

“I felt good today, coming in and getting my team’s back…and doing what I can,” Silva said. I definitely felt on point with my backdoor curves today, so I was really excited to get that out there.”

A day after throwing 104 pitches in five innings of relief, Silva went 4 ²⁄₃ innings in relief on Saturday. She gave up five runs on seven hits in the game one win. She didn’t figure in the decision in game two, but she was much more effective in the circle. Silva gave up five hits but no runs while striking out two.

While she didn’t strike out a lot of batters, the strikeouts Silva did get were crucial. She entered in the third inning with a runner in scoring position and one out. She struck out her first batter and induced a flyout to end the threat.

Silva’s second strikeout came with runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth. Once again, she was able to turn the Ducks back and keep her team in the game.

“She was awesome,” Lowe said. And I mean, when she responds like that we’re in really good shape and she can keep us in any ball game. And then we just have to execute with the runners on base.”

The Arizona offense couldn’t get the right hits at the right times.

The Wildcats got two runners in scoring position with no outs in the first inning. In the third, it was two runners on with two outs. In the fifth, the bases were loaded with one out. None of the promising situations resulted in runs.

Each of Arizona’s starters got at least one hit except for three-hole hitter Carlie Scupin, The problem was what kind of hits they were and when they happened.

“I mean, we had a lot of hits, we just didn’t have the timely hits,” Lowe said. “I think we just also weren’t dangerous in those situations, making them make tough plays. I thought we were too easy of an out in some of those situations. They know, and they’re just as frustrated, and they’re hungry for tomorrow.”

The Wildcats got their only runs in the second inning when Olivia DiNardo led off with a single and scored on a triple by Emily Schepp. Jasmine Perezchica drove in Schepp for the second run.

Neither team scored after the second inning. Despite little scoring, the game stretched on for over 2.5 hours with multiple reviews and delays.

The game started three hours after it was scheduled following an injury to Oregon centerfielder Hanna Delgado on Friday night. Delgado remained in the hospital on Saturday but is expected to fully recover according to Oregon.

The two teams will face off to claim the series on Sunday at noon MST.