The Arizona Softball team dominated the 7th inning on Monday night, scoring 3 runs on 2 back to back homers by K'lee Arredondo and Stacie Chambers. All looked rosy until a costly error in the bottom of the 7th and a walk off HR by UCLA in the bottom of the 8th. Arizona fell 6-5. Arizona fell behind 4-2 after UCLA hit a line drive in the bottom of the sixth inning that just caught the foul line in right field and brought home two runs. The Cats battled back in the 7th inning by getting a runner on by drawing a walk. The rest was left up to Arredondo who drilled a line drive to left center field, just clearing the wall. The next batter was Chambers who left no doubt about the destination of her home run. As soon as she hit the ball, the dugout cleared. Full extension.
(Arredondo tied it up with a 2 run blast in the 7th!)
UCLA clawed back in the bottom of the 7th to tie it and were able to get a walk off HR in the bottom of the 8th to take the game.
The Cats jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning after Brigette Del Ponte singled and brought in Arredondo, who finished the day 3-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs. UCLA quickly countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the 1st on Megan Langenfield's homer. UCLA added a third run in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Cats tied the game in the top of the 5th on Stacie Chambers' single. Chambers finished the night going 2-3 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.
Kenzie Fowler pitched 7.2 innings and gave up 6 runs, all earned on 12 hits and 4 walks. She looked stronger as the game went on and almost got out of the 7th inning by striking out Andrea Harrison and getting Samantha Camuso to pop out to right field. Unfortunately, an error in left field by miscommunication between Lauren Schutzler and Brittany Lastrapes kept UCLA in it. The Cats intentionally walked the next batter Julie Burney to face Kaula Shall who pounded a liner into right field. Right fielder, Karissa Buchanan was unable to come up with it and the Cats and Bruins were tied.
Arizona loaded the bases in the top of the 8th inning but Stacie Chambers got caught looking at strike three to end the inning.
It looked as if the Cats would get another inning after disposing of the first two batters in the bottom of the eighth before Megan Langenfield, launched a game winning HR into centerfield, her 2nd of the night.
(Cat Killer!)
Make no mistake about this one. The Cats blew it with a routine fly ball error in the bottom of the 7th. Tough loss for the Cats. There is no doubt both teams could win on any night so the Cats are in no way finished.