Arizona softball: Wildcats thrash Drake 21-0 after rain delay

Arizona softball rivaled Arizona football’s offense on Saturday night, as the tenth-ranked Wildcats beat Drake 21-0 in four innings after a three-hour rain delay, improving to 9-0 on the season.

The game was already far out of reach in the first inning as the Wildcats scored 10 runs in their first trip to the plate.

“We're a good hitting team and (Drake) threw their No. 3 pitcher and that happens at this level," Arizona head coach Mike Candrea said after the game. "But we’re very capable of putting innings like that together."

Arizona had 19 hits on the day as 11 different Wildcats registered in the hit column. They also drew six walks.

Alyssa Palomino, who had seven RBIs in Friday’s doubleheader, hit her third homer of the season, while fellow freshman Jessie Harper homered twice, her third and fourth homers of the season.

Harper had four RBIs and Palomino had three RBIs, while leadoff hitter Mandie Perez was 4-for-4, improving her season average to .545. The Wildcats had 18 players record an at-bat.

Taylor McQuillin (3-0) made her fourth start of the season, pitching three perfect innings before being relieved by Michelle Floyd in the fourth inning.

Floyd allowed two hits and two walks in two scoreless innings.

Here is Arizona’s final box score:

Here is how the scoring unfolded:

The Wildcats were scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday — with Boston College being the second opponent — but inclement weather shelved those plans.

Instead, Arizona will have a doubleheader Sunday. The Wildcats will face North Dakota State at 1 p.m., and then they will take on Boston College once that game concludes to wrap up the Wildcat Invitational.

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