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Arizona baseball, soccer and softball teams score big wins on Friday

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Arizona’s soccer team beat Stanford for the first time since 2005
Arizona Athletics

It’s completely understandable if your Arizona Wildcats fandom was totally focused on the women’s basketball team’s shocking upset of UConn in the Final Four, but it wasn’t the only big win by a UA team on Friday.

Arizona’s baseball, soccer and softball teams combined for four victories, including one that ended a 16-year drought against one opponent.

Here’s a rundown of what happened Friday in those sports:

Soccer knocks off defending national champs

While the women’s basketball team was clinching its first-ever trip to the national title game, Arizona’s soccer squad was also making history. Senior forward Jill Aguilera’s two goals, including the game winner in the 65th minute, propelled the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over defending NCAA champion Stanford at Mulcahy Stadium.

Fellow senior Jada Talley assisted on both goals, with her beautiful cross setting up Aguilera’s winning strike:

It marked the first time since 2005 that Arizona (7-4, 2-4 Pac-12) has beaten Stanford (5-4-1, 4-2). The Wildcats wrap up their home schedule Sunday at 12 p.m. PT against Cal (5-3-1, 3-3) before playing their final three games on the road.

Baseball rallies to beat ASU, clinch weekend series

Jacob Berry’s RBI single capped a 3-run top of the eighth as Arizona came from behind on three different occasions to beat ASU 7-6 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The win clinched the 3-game series for the Wildcats (18-7, 5-3) after they rallied to win 10-5 on Thursday. It’s the third time in five tries the UA has won a series over ASU under coach Jay Johnson.

Arizona fell behind 3-0 after one inning but tied it in the fourth on a 2-run home run from Donta’ Williams. ASU (15-7, 4-4) would retake the lead in the fifth on a throwing error by UA shortstop Jacob Blas, one of three for the Wildcats on the night, but Tanner O’Tremba retied the game in the sixth on maybe the most unique inside-the-park home run you’ll ever see:

A 2-run seventh put the Sun Devils back in front before Arizona scored three in the eighth. Williams drove in a run on a bases-loaded ground out and then O’Tremba scored on a wild pitch before Berry’s game-winning single.

Arizona will go for the sweep Saturday at 7 p.m. PT, then host ASU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT at Hi Corbett Field in a nonconference game.

Softball sweeps doubleheader at Stanford to extend win streak

Arizona (21-5, 5-2) has run its win streak to seven games after beating Stanford 6-1 and 5-3 at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium.

After Alyssa Denham no-hit the Cardinal (22-7, 3-2) on Thursday, Hannah Bowen nearly matched the feat by taking a no-no into the fifth inning in the first game. She finished with a two-hitter, striking out six and not allowing a runner to get into scoring position.

Carlie Scupin had a double, a triple and two RBI as UA freshmen drove in four of the six runs.

The second game saw Arizona jump out to a 5-0 lead behind a 3-run homer from Dejah Mulipola and two RBI from Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza. Mariah Lopez got the win but came out in the fifth after allowing a pair of home runs, with Devyn Netz allowing only one baserunner over the final 2.1 innings for the save.

Arizona goes for the 4-game sweep at 12 p.m. PT Saturday.