Arizona softball coach Caitlin Lowe knew that life in the Big 12 Conference wasn’t going to be easy.
Sure, the conference might not have the pedigree of the old Pac-12, but Big 12 programs can carry their weight. The Wildcats’ opening series in their new conference has turned into a testament to the strength of the league.
UCF defeated Arizona 5-4 Saturday to clinch the series by limiting the Wildcats’ offensive production, particularly with runners on base. UA pitchers conceded 15 hits, the most hits allowed in a game since 2023.
No. 9 Arizona (21-4) left multiple runners on base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and had the tying run on base in the seventh. Lowe said she was overall pleased by the team’s response after the Wildcats lost the series opener 9-3 in a sloppy affair.
“I liked our fight, and we got to keep showing up,” said Lowe. “I think if we’re that team every single day and giving ourselves chances to win at the end of the game and executing, then we’re in a good spot against any team.”
Arizona struck first with a run in the bottom of the first on a double by Kaiah Altmeyer that scored Dakota Kennedy. Altmeyer was thrown out at home later in the ending trying to score on a single up the middle. Arizona’s inability to tack on additional runs would prove a theme throughout the night.
The Wildcats doubled their lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Tayler Biehl. UCF answered with a two run homer in the top of the third off Arizona’s Miranda Stoddard, who went 2.2 innings.
Arizona regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when Devyn Netz drilled a leadoff home run over the batter’s eye in center field.
The lead was short-lived, however, as UCF answered with a run in the fourth off Saya Swain. An inning later, Knights first baseman Ashleigh Griffin gave UCF a lead with a two-run homer off Netz. It was the third homer that Netz has allowed this series.
In the sixth inning, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out but could only score one run on a fielder’s choice ground out by Emily Schepp.
Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, Arizona’s Jenna Sniffen appeared to record the first out with a fly out to right field. Arizona’s coaching staff challenged an illegal substitution UCF made in right field at the start of the inning, and after a lengthy review Sniffen’s out was overturned, giving her another chance to swing.
Sniffen got on with a leadoff single, followed by a Logan Cole fly out that brought the top of the order to the plate. Kennedy, who was playing her second game back from a lingering arm injury, fought to a full count but ultimately grounded into a fielder’s choice. A Regan Stockey groundout ended the game, leaving Arizona with 13 stranded runners on the night.
“I think that we need to just maybe cash in on moving runners and stuff like that,” Kennedy said. Honestly I don’t really think it’s a mentality thing or anything. We need to get our job done when our number’s called.
For UCF, the win clinched the highest ranked series victory in program history.
“They’re just feisty,” Lowe said of the Knights. “I love that we’re getting these games in the Big 12. I think it’s important. We’re going to need them come postseason time, and it’s great competition so far.”
Arizona will look to salvage the series when it hosts UCF at 10 a.m. MST Sunday on ESPN+.