Arizona
Pac-12 Softball Tournament: Arizona dominates Washington to advance to semifinals
STANFORD, CALIF.— There were two keys to Arizona defeating Washington in their first game at the Pac-12 Softball Tournament. Both were on the offensive side of play. The Wildcats executed both perfectly in a dominant 11-3 run-rule victory over the Huskies.
When the Wildcats played the Huskies in Tucson, they allowed UW righty Ruby Meylan to determine the zone. They chased her pitches. They couldn’t do that at Stanford’s Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium if they hoped to be successful.
They didn’t chase her pitches, but they did chase Meylan from the game in the second inning on the way to a six-inning victory over the Huskies.
First time UW has been run-ruled this season. Last time was 4/16/23 at Oregon State
— Softball-Obsess(Ed) Strong (@ByEdStrong) May 10, 2024
The other key to the game was the reason the ‘Cats got to Meylan. The middle of the order came through. All of Arizona’s hitters had been to the plate two batters into the second inning. UA was up 4-0 after two with hits and RBIs from Carlie Scupin, Allie Skaggs, and Olivia DiNardo.
“I think we were all just excited to come out,” Scupin said. “We remember our series against Washington, so I think we kind of played with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder. But I mean, honestly, not even just the middle of lineup. It was one through nine all night, so it was great.”
Freshman pitcher Sidne Peters was able to keep the Wildcats off the board in the third, but they eventually got to her, too.
“Peters came in and threw some dirty stuff, and they just stayed consistent and worked at it and took some stuff to get to better quality at-bats,” Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe said.
In the sixth, it was time for Lindsay Lopez to try her hand against the Wildcats. Arizona put runs on the board every inning except the third and scored at least two runs in four of the six innings played.
It wasn’t all about the hitting, though. The Wildcat pitchers had a strong collective effort using the all-hands-on-board approach in the circle that Lowe mentioned before the team left Tucson.
Miranda Stoddard got the start. She was strong for the two innings she pitched. She gave up just two hits and one walk. The Huskies couldn’t push a run across against her.
Brooke Mannon surrendered two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning of work. She struck out two in the third inning but was unable to get an out in the fourth before giving up a two-run home run. It didn’t stop her from getting the win, though. Mannon improved to 6-3 on the year.
Aissa Silva relieved Mannon after the two runs scored in the bottom of the fourth. She immediately gave up a home run, pulling UW within two runs of Arizona.
That was the extent of the damage, though. Silva gave up one run on two hits and two walks to pick up the three-inning save.
It was a complete turnaround from the way the Wildcats looked when they faced UW earlier in the season. The Huskies run-ruled Arizona twice before losing the final game of the series 2-0. UA couldn’t muster a lot against Meylan either time they faced her, although they did get their win in a game she pitched.
“We prepared all week,” Scupin said. “We knew we were gonna get Ruby. So I think it’s that and being prepared and looking at our at-bats from last time in the series against them. But like flipside, just trusting our abilities and all of that. I think we’re a completely different team now than when we played them. So, we knew what we wanted to do today. We did that.”
What they did was impose their will at every turn and pick each other up when they needed to. When their pitchers gave up three runs in the bottom of the fourth, the offense went out and got two of them back in the top of the fifth.
Those two runs came on a home run by DiNardo, who went 3-for-4 and tied her career high with five RBI. Two of her hits went for extra bases.
It was the second straight year DiNardo hit one out of Stanford’s stadium. The native of San Mateo, just a few miles up the road from Palo Alto, seemed to be in her element.
“I do like coming home,” DiNardo said. “It’s always nice to be home with my family and see my dogs and stuff like that, but it’s different. I do like playing in Tucson in front of those fans.”
Scupin was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Skaggs went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. That made the three, four, and five hitters 7-for-12 with three doubles, a home run, and eight RBI on the day.
“I think we all really trusted ourselves today and just kind of took pitch by pitch and not trying to force anything to happen,” DiNardo said. “It was like we’re good enough the way we are without having to change the game at all.”
The top and the bottom of the order continued to produce, as well. Seven of Arizona’s hitters got at least one hit. Even those who didn’t, like catcher Emily Schepp, made good contact. Schepp almost hit one out, but the 205-foot left-field fence was just a few inches too far and too high.
Was it the most complete effort of the season for the Wildcats?
“That’s exactly what I said first to them,” Lowe said. “I thought all the way around. The pitching was handing the ball to the next person and doing their job. I was thrilled with our pitching performance tonight as well as our defense. Just really excited about the way they came out and stayed consistent throughout every inning.”
Now they get a chance to get revenge against another team they felt they should have played better against. Arizona will face UCLA in the semifinals. The last time the two teams faced each other, the Wildcats were going into the bottom of the sixth with a 7-0 lead before the Bruins came back to win 11-7. It was the difference between winning their series 2-1 and losing it 1-2.
This time it’s for a spot in the finals of the last Pac-12 Softball Tournament.
The American Lung Association released its annual “State of Lung Cancer” report that ranks lung cancer response by state. Arizona ranked above average for rate of new cases; average for early diagnosis; and below average for survival rate, surgical treatment and, lack of treatment and, screening. (File photo by Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – The American Lung Association (ALA) graded Arizona’s lung cancer response as mostly below average Tuesday. The association releases an annual report documenting the success or failure in each state’s response to lung cancer awareness.
“The No. 1 modality (for lung cancer) is going to be smoking,” said Dr. Richard Gillespie, a thoracic surgeon at HonorHealth Heart Care – Heart and Lung Surgery – Shea. “It’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, but it’s not the only risk.”
The ALA report follows a criterion that ranks states on six factors. Arizona ranked above average for rate of new cases; average for early diagnosis; and below average for survival rate, surgical treatment, and lack of treatment and screening.
“Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer,” said ALA Senior Director of Advocacy JoAnna Strother. “It is the leading cause of cancer deaths. We’re (ALA) just trying to make more people aware that if they are eligible for screening, that they should definitely talk to their provider.”
Those diagnosed with lung cancer can get treatments or surgeries to help lessen their symptoms.
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In Arizona, according to the report, 27.1% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are alive after five years, which is lower than the national average of 28.4%.
The rate of new cases in the state, 42.6 per 100,000, is similar to last year and is significantly lower than the national rate of 53.6 – ranking the state seventh among all others.
This year, the rate of new cases has improved by 19% in Arizona and 15% nationally.
Those at high risk for lung cancer in Arizona include adults between the ages of 50 to 80 who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years, are current smokers or quit within the last 15 years. About 14% of those high-risk individuals in the state received screenings for lung cancer – compared to the national rate of 16% – ranking the state at 37th.
“People are very independent out here (in Arizona); they don’t want to be told what to do,” Gillespie said. “I think people haven’t heard about screening for lung cancer. It’s a relatively new modality. We as a community need to really be letting people know that this is something that can reduce their risk of lung cancer.”
According to ALA, lung cancer takes the lives of 361 people a day in the U.S. But within the past 10 years, the lung cancer survival rate has increased by 44%.
“Those who are recent immigrants, those who are in some of the less affluent areas of Phoenix just don’t have access to health care,” Gillespie said. “We want to be a part of outreach (and) make sure that we’re providing tools that people need to be able to take care of themselves.”
Arizona Wildcats junior Tetairoa McMillan on Tuesday was among 11 players named semifinalists for the 2024 Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football’s best pass-catcher.
McMillan is third in the nation with 1,136 receiving yards with Arizona (4-6) still set to visit the TCU Horned Frogs this Saturday and before hosting the rival Arizona State Sun Devils in the regular season finale.
His receiving yards total trails two other finalists: San Jose State receiver Nick Nash (1,282 yards) and Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (1,170).
Also on the list is a player for the Wildcats’ upcoming opponent. TCU’s Jack Bech is sixth in the nation with 982 receiving yards so far this season.
McMillan began the year well-regarded and on the lengthy Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list, as well as the Maxwell Award watch list that will be handed out to the nation’s best all-around college player.
The bulk of his production in 2024 has come in two games: a 304-yard performance in the season opener against New Mexico on Aug. 31 and a 202-yard outing on Oct. 26 against West Virginia.
A likely first-round pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound receiver piled up 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Current Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. won the Biletnikoff trophy last season for his 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior for Ohio State.
LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze, who like Harrison were first-round NFL Draft picks, were the other finalists in 2023.
A panel of 600 college football journalists, commentators, announcers, former award winners and former receivers vote for semifinalists, finalists and award winners.
A fan vote accounts for one official vote as well.
Tetairoa McMillan and 10 more 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists
Jack Bech (WR), TCU
Ja’Corey Brooks (WR), Louisville
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE), Bowling Green
Tai Felton (WR), Maryland
Tre Harris (WR), Ole Miss
Travis Hunter (WR), Colorado
Tetairoa McMillan (WR), Arizona
Nick Nash (WR), San Jose State
Xavier Restrepo (WR), Miami
Jeremiah Smith (WR), Ohio State
Ryan Williams (WR), Alabama
Another week of the NFL season is in the books. Here’s how former Arizona Wildcats fared around the league in Week 11.
Nick Folk, K, Tennessee Titans
Folk made a pair of field goals, including a long of 43 yards, in Tennessee’s 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Folk has 396 career field goals, one shy of 15th all-time.
Christian Roland-Wallace, ST, Kansas City Chiefs
Roland-Wallace played 13 snaps on special teams in Kansas City’s 30-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Roland-Wallace earned a 66.7 grade, second-best on the Chiefs special teams unit.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, ST, San Francisco 49ers
Flannigan-Fowles played 14 special teams snaps for San Francisco in its 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Flannigan-Fowles’ 63.6 grade on PFF was fourth-best on the 49ers special teams unit.
Jacob Cowing, WR/ST, San Francisco 49ers
Cowing played one offensive snap and two special teams snaps in San Francisco’s loss.
Jordan Morgan, OT, Green Bay Packers
Morgan was placed on the injured reserve on Saturday, meaning he’ll miss at least the next four weeks. Morgan reportedly reaggravated a shoulder injury during practice.
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