Arizona

No. 21 Arizona wins first Top 25 series this season with game 3 victory over No. 22 Oregon

Published

2 years ago

April 14, 2024

No. 21 Arizona wins first Top 25 series this season with game 3 victory over No. 22 Oregon

Technically, the No. 21 Arizona Wildcats won a series against a Top 25 team last season, but it was an early-season victory over a No. 22 ASU team that quickly fell out of the rankings and into the basement of the Pac-12. A series win over No. 22 Oregon, which entered the weekend fourth in the conference standings, seemed like a much bigger deal. The Wildcats closed that deal with a 2-1 series win, defeating the Ducks 3-2 in game three on Sunday afternoon.

It didn’t come easily, though. It took the Wildcats eight innings to dispatch the visitors. The Wildcats led 2-1 going into the top of the seventh, but they couldn’t get the three outs they needed to end it there. Oregon’s Paige Sinicki hit her second home run of the season to tie it up.

Arizona outfielder Jasmine Perezchica came up in the bottom of the eighth with one out and the bases loaded. Arizona had squandered so many chances with runners in scoring position over the weekend that it was no sure thing.

A sacrifice fly would have worked with a different kind of hitter, but Perezchica has just one sacrifice fly in her entire career. That came earlier this season.

“She’s mentally tough,” Lowe said. “I mean, that’s a bases-loaded situation with force outs everywhere. It’s the hardest situation to slap hit against a very good pitcher with the pressure on, and she completely stayed calm and perfectly herself, and it’s exactly what you want to see from a senior.”

Perezchica would go with what she knows: the short game.

The senior came through, knocking in fellow senior Ali Blanchard from third base. Perezchica slapped it high into the air and Blanchard took off, sliding in before Oregon catcher Vallery Wong could apply the tag.

“I was just running as fast as I could,” Blanchard said. “It was a really high chop, so I knew I had a chance.”

The play was reviewed, but the walk-off stood.

“The sad thing about the reviews, you have to kind of like hold your [excitement],” Lowe said. “I mean, I said to [assistant coach Lauren Lappin], ‘Just let me be happy for a second before they go to the camera.’ That’s what’s a bummer about that, but then they get two applauses.”

The Ducks saw a lot of Arizona ace Aissa Silva this weekend despite the fact that she didn’t make a start in the three-game series. Silva pitched 15 ²⁄₃ innings over three games, getting two wins in the process.

“I think for the first time she kind of reinvented herself for a Sunday and just had, some different tools working today that she didn’t have before and quite frankly, not consistently all year,” said Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe. “And she just came out and was a different person today…I’m just so proud of the way she performed. She was composed, trusted her stuff, and just went at people, and that was just fantastic to see. I mean, she has all those tools normally and they aren’t necessarily all working on the same day. Everything was working…Didn’t see her overthrow…I’m just very proud of her performance.”

Freshman pitcher Brooke Mannon got her second start of the series. She wasn’t quite as effective as she was in Friday’s game, allowing one run and working deep into counts in her two innings of work. She kept her team in it until she handed the ball to Silva to start the third.

Lowe said that Mannon is still being worked back into things after being out with an injury, but the four innings she was able to pitch over the weekend gave Silva a bit of a break.

The Ducks’ run against Mannon came in the top of the first. Kai Luschar singled then immediately stole second base, putting a runner in scoring position with no outs on her 22nd steal of the season. Two batters later, Ariel Carlson drove her in with a double.

Arizona responded in the bottom of the inning, getting one run back. Blaise Biringer doubled to right-center, driving in Regan Shockey from third.

The Wildcats could have had a lot more, though. As has been the pattern all weekend, they failed to get big hits with runners in scoring position. The inning ended on a strikeout from Emily Schepp with the bases loaded.

Arizona’s seven-hitter first inning accomplished something beyond a single run. The Wildcats drove starter Oregon Raegan Breedlove from the game after just two-thirds of an inning. That brought game-two starter Elise Sokolsky into the circle.

Arizona struggled against Sokolsky’s wileyness. In Saturday’s loss, the Wildcats got eight hits and a walk against her but could only push two runs across. It was more of the same on Sunday afternoon.

“She changes speeds and she does it really well,” Lowe said. “She hides the ball and when you try to do too much, she’s really effective. And I thought we were trying to swing at her pitches quite often in both of her appearances instead of really letting the game come to us.”

Olivia DiNardo was one of the hitters Lowe credited with letting it come to her eventually. She put the home team up 2-1 with a solo home run off Sokolsky in the third inning, but that’s the last success either team had off the opposing pitchers until the final innings.

After Sinicki’s home run in the top of the seventh, Arizona’s offense hoped to walk it off in the bottom of the inning. They still couldn’t get to Sokolsky, though. The Oregon pitcher got two groundouts.

Despite her success against the Wildcats all weekend, Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi decided to lift Sokolsky in favor of Morgan Scott with two outs and a 1-0 count on Carlie Scupin. Scupin had been one of the hitters who had most struggled with Sokolsky’s off-speed stuff, so it was a bit of a surprise.

Scott threw Scupin three more balls to put her on base, but she got the final out when Allie Skaggs popped up behind the plate to Wong.

Silva was back in the circle an inning after giving up the lead. She had a short memory and got right back to work, trusting that her teammates would pick her up with their offense.

“It definitely sucks to give up a home run and tie the game, but we’re definitely used to extra innings,” Silva said.

Oregon got a two-out single in the top of the eighth but couldn’t do anything with it. Arizona had another shot at the walk-off.

DiNardo gave the Wildcats a one-out base runner when Sinicki committed an error on the ground ball to short. Blanchard came in to run.

Schepp walked on four straight pitches to put two on. Still just one out for Tayler Biehl, who came into the game with at least one hit in five of her previous six games. Make that six of her last seven.

Biehl hit the ball back to Scott in the circle. The Oregon pitcher couldn’t come up with it, and everyone was safe. Bases loaded with one out.

That’s when Perezchica made her presence known. The only ball that left the infield in the inning was the error on Sinicki that reached shallow left field, but it was enough for the Wildcats.

“You can see throughout our conference and throughout the country, Sunday is what it’s about—being gritty and just finding a way,” Lowe said. “Jaz didn’t feel great that whole day and just…did a great job and was able to close it out for us.”

Arizona stays at home to host rival ASU beginning Friday, Apr. 19 at 5 p.m. MST.

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Arizona

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

Published

10 hours ago

March 10, 2026

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WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.

Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.

At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.

But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.

ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.

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Arizona

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

Published

22 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.

The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.

Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.

Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.

2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards

Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

All-Big 12 First Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*

All-Big 12 Second Team

Richie Saunders, BYU
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Darryn Peterson, Kansas

All-Big 12 Third Team

Koa Peat, Arizona
Cameron Carr, Baylor
Rob Wright, BYU
Themus Fulks, UCF
Xavier Edmonds, TCU

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:

Arizona: Tobe Awaka
Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
TCU: David Punch
Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
West Virginia: Honor Huff
Utah: Terrence Brown

All-Defensive Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas*

A tie resulted in an extra position on the team

All-Freshman Team

Brayden Burries, Arizona*
Koa Peat, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Darryn Peterson, Kansas*

All-Newcomer Team

Cameron Carr, Baylor
Themus Fulks, UCF
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

*- unanimous selection

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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