For the first time in nine years, the Arizona Wildcats softball team is headed to the Women's College World Series.
The No. 6 seed Wildcats punched their ticket by routing No. 11 seed Mississippi 9-1 in their Super Regionals matchup in Tucson on Saturday to sweep their best-of-three series. Junior pitcher Alyssa Denham allowed just one run Saturday, one day after senior pitcher Taylor McQuillin guided the Wildcats to a 5-2 win over Ole Miss in the first game of the series.
Juniors Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, Malia Martinez and Dejah Mulipola all hit home runs Saturday for the Wildcats, who came one or two wins away from a WCWS appearance seven times from 2011-18.
UA head coach Mike Candrea will look to guide the Wildcats to their ninth national championship when the eight-team WCWS begins in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Arizona will face fellow Pac-12 team Washington in its first WCWS game. The Huskies swept the Wildcats in a three-game series in Tucson last month.
The Wildcats' last national title came in 2007.
For the first time since 2010, the Wildcats are heading to the #WCWS! pic.twitter.com/fSXS58xqsk
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 26, 2019
Time to book those plane tickets to OKC! ✈️
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 26, 2019
With its 9-1 win over Ole Miss, @ArizonaSoftball will be making its 23rd appearance in the Women's College World Series!#NCAASoftball | #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/w4X34cTAAx
