Another run-rule victory in the books for the Wildcats
No. 9 Arizona softball jumped out to an early lead against the Utah State Aggies (13-10, 0-0 MWC) and never relinquished it, although it took a while to truly pull away. The Wildcats (23-4, 1-2 Big 12) won the early week nonconference game 8-0 in six innings one day after completing their first Big 12 series.
The underclassmen were crucial to the win just as they were on Sunday morning against UCF. It was primarily right-handed pitcher Brooke Mannon and freshman utility player Anyssa Wild who got the glory this time. Just like on Sunday, there were big moments for the upperclassmen, as well.
Junior outfielder Dakota Kennedy provided the quick start with a leadoff home run for the second straight day. It was one of two times she got on base in four plate appearances. She went 1 for 3 with a walk.
Kennedy returned on Friday, Mar. 7 against UCF after suffering a broken bone in her hand against Washington on Sunday, Feb. 9. She is 3 for 12 with two home runs, two RBI, three walks, and six runs scored in the four games since her return.
“She picked up right where she left off,” said Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe. “I thought it was gonna take her a second, but it was great to see a drag bunt there…I think she just provides such a punch for us…and plays a great left field, so that’s just been exciting to have her back. And I think it’s a testament to how she kind of worked when she was hurt because she’s taken one-handed front toss and off the tee…Her throwing hand wasn’t hurt so she was grabbing balls off the fence and picking them up barehanded and throwing them to second base, which was exactly what she did in the beginning of that game. So, when you stay ready, it’s easier to jump back in.”
The Wildcats were playing their fourth game in as many days. That provided an opportunity for several players to get on the field.
Mannon was chief among the players who took advantage of her opportunity. The sophomore made her fifth appearance and fourth start of the season.
“Super proud of Brooke,” Lowe said. “She set the tone today.”
The 4.0 innings Mannon pitched on Monday almost doubled her season total although it was her fourth start. She came in with just 4.1 IP in 2025 and had not figured in a decision. The outing lowered her ERA from 3.23 to 1.68 and improved her record to 1-0.
Mannon had a very good outing. She shut out the Aggies in her four innings, giving up two hits and one walk. She threw 43 pitches, 30 of which were strikes, and struck out two. She also induced a double play.
“I felt pretty good,” Mannon said. “Definitely settled in after, like, second, third inning.”
Mannon gave up her only extra-base hit in the second.
In addition to pitching effectively, Arizona was on point defensively for the second game in a row. The Wildcats were very shaky on Friday and Saturday.
The double play behind Mannon wasn’t the only one of the game. Arizona reliever Saya Swain also benefited from the work of her defense.
Swain walked Ariel Fifita to lead off the top of the sixth. She got the next batter out on a fly to center field, giving Arizona one out but USU still had a runner on base and the Wildcats’ lead was not entirely secure at 4-0.
Aggies first baseman Giselle Gonzalez lined out to Sniffen. The freshman third baseman saw Fifita straying too far off first. Her throw across the diamond was in time to retire Fifita and end the inning.
Arizona was halfway to the run-rule victory, but the offense had been inconsistent. The Wildcats scored one run each in the first and second innings, but the scoring went quiet until the fifth after that. UA doubled its lead with two runs in the bottom of that inning.
“I think they made some really good plays to stop big innings the whole time, and then we figured out a way to put the runs on at the end,” Lowe said.
Freshman Anyssa Wild got the start at designated player. The hometown player went 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch in the first start of her career. She drove in a run in the second inning to double Arizona’s lead at the time, but it wasn’t her biggest at-bat of the day.
Wild stepped into the box with two on and one out in the bottom of the sixth. Arizona led 7-0. Getting pinch runner Zaedi Tagalog in from second would end the game.
Wild did what her team needed. She sent the 2-1 pitch back up the middle to score Tagalog and activate the run rule.
“She’s been ready for every single opportunity that she’s had,” Lowe said. “She’s been the best teammate in the dugout and shows up at practice and puts in the work, and she’s done nothing but gotten better since she’s gotten here. And we thought the matchup was great for her today, which is exciting to be able to write that in. And hopefully, she can take off from there.”
It was bittersweet for Utah State head coach Todd Judge. Judge is the co-founder and former head coach of the Oro Valley Suncats travel team. The Arizona State alumnus has coached many current and former Wildcats. Wild is one of them.
“I’m proud of all of them,” Judge said. “I think we put 100-plus players in (college) over a 20-year time span, so to see them all still out there playing and having success is—I mean, Anyssa had the two big hits in the game, the winning hit. She played for me for a couple years, so I’m proud of her. As much as we want to win the game and not have them have success so we win, it is nice to see those kids doing well, and I always follow them weekly on box scores and this and that. So I’m happy for them.”
He was grateful for the opportunity to play at home regardless of the outcome.
“It was emotional coming back,” Judge said. “My family still lives here. Obviously, we wanted to have a great showing in front of family and friends. We were able to play close for a while there, but Arizona is definitely a better team than we are, and we know that we strive to be at the level they’re at.”
After the game, fellow ASU alum and former Arizona head coach Mike Candrea talked to the Aggies in the visitors’ dugout. He spoke about how they could set aside the result and work to get to the level Judge strives for.
“Coach Candrea is a mentor and a friend of mine, and I know the kind of program he’s developed here, and we’re trying to get as close as we can and work hard every day to try and be as close as we can to what he’s doing,” Judge said. “I know we’re so far away, but we know that if we keep working hard and doing what we’re supposed to do, that we’ll have a chance one day of competing with these guys and maybe in an NCAA regional sometime.”
After Candrea finished talking to the Utah State players, he chatted with the USU pitching coach. Former ASU pitcher Marissa Schuld started her college career as a Wildcat before transferring back home to the Valley. She is now in her first year as an assistant coach in Logan.
“She played for me since she was 12 years old,” Judge said. So we’re really trying to get more of the coaching staff to be on the same page as where I was. So since she played for me for so long, she knows exactly the way I coach and compete…She’s young, but it doesn’t matter. She’s definitely older in her wisdom, so we’re really happy to have her.”
Arizona had 12 hits, five walks, and one hit batter in the game. In addition to Kennedy, Devyn Netz hit a home run. It was the redshirt senior’s eighth of the year, tying her with Stewart for the team lead. The three-run bomb came in the bottom of the six, setting up Wild for the walk-off opportunity.
Mannon was relieved by Aissa Silva. Silva started the fifth, going 1.0 innings with one hit and two strikeouts. She faced four batters and dropped her season ERA to 2.63.
Swain pitched the top of the sixth. She did not surrender a hit but did walk one batter. Her ERA after the game was 2.15.
The Wildcats continue with Big 12 play when Utah (8-18) comes to town on Friday. It will be the Utes’ conference opener.
“I feel amazing with this team,” Wild said. “We’re gonna do great things this year. I just know it.”
Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics