Arizona softball sweeps Friday doubleheader vs. GCU, moves into first place in Pac-12

Arizona softball is having a productive bye week.

The Wildcats took two games from GCU on Friday in Phoenix and grabbed first place in the Pac-12, thanks to a surprising Oregon road win over No. 1 UCLA.

Arizona remains 12-0 in conference play, while the top-ranked Bruins fall to 9-1. UCLA hosts the UA for a three-game series to cap conference play on May 9-11.

The Wildcats beat GCU 6-0 in game one, then 2-0 in game two in eight innings. Taylor McQuillin threw a one-hit shutout and Alyssa Denham followed it up with a two-hit shutout. Both had 10 strikeouts.

Reyna Carranco hit a two-run single up the middle to plate the only runs in game two.

In game one, Rylee Pierce broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a solo homer before the Wildcats exploded for five runs in the sixth, with RBIs from Malia Martinez, Hillary Edior, Peanut Martinez and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza.

The Wildcats (34-7) have won 16 straight and will go for the sweep of GCU (26-16) on Saturday at 1 p.m. MST on FOX Sports Arizona.

UA shortstop Jessie Harper made an acrobatic defensive play to end a first-inning rally in game two.