Arizona is headed to its 24th Women’s College World Series following Saturday’s 4-1 win at Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional, the first time since 2009 the Wildcats have made it to Oklahoma City away from Hillenbrand Stadium.
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza hit a home run on her 24th birthday, Tucson High grad Carlie Scupin produced a two-run single and senior pitcher Alyssa Denham gutted out a complete-game performance against the Razorbacks.
The Wildcats are going to the #WCWS! 😼
(11) @ArizonaSoftball sweeps the Fayetteville Super Regional, defeating (6) Arkansas, 4-1, to advance to the Women’s College World Series for the 24th time!#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/6n5rf8YANi
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 29, 2021
The victory over Arkansas, after Arizona trailed 1-0 without a hit entering the bottom of the fifth, drew plenty of reaction on social media. Here is a sampling of that:
First, some highlights in case you missed the game:
📼 SUPER REGIONALS HIGHLIGHTS: (11) @ArizonaSoftball defeats (6) @RazorbackSB, 4-1, in game two of the Fayetteville Super Regional.#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/58PeZlfdDQ
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 30, 2021
Mike Candrea’s press conference from Fayetteville:
Palomino-Cardoza’s presser:
The look on freshman Sharlize Palacios’ face says it all about the respect Palomino-Cardoza’s teammates have for her:
Look at Sharlize Palacios’ reaction to Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza hitting a two-run home run to put Arizona ahead 2-1 in the fifth. APC, the leader of this team, goes deep on her birthday. pic.twitter.com/GOqjzsFhbR
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 29, 2021
Former ace Danielle O’Toole-Trejo offers her support …
Go cats! So excited for Coach and this group. ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/OqxZyhCOdw
— Danielle O’Toole Trejo (@Oh_tooly3) May 29, 2021
To think that Candrea has done this 24 times and some have asked if he has anything left in the tank or if replacing him would be a good idea. Candrea will leave on his own terms.
A humble Mike Candrea on Arizona heading back to the Women’s College World Series: “For a long time I took these moments for granted. … I don’t think people understand how tough it is just to get there, so I’m enjoying this moment. Very much so.” pic.twitter.com/Ahwyg3NTpF
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) May 30, 2021
Fayetteville Super Regional Champions! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UQWQRtloOm
— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) May 29, 2021
Couldn’t have happened at a better time, on her birthday and in Arizona’s most important game of the season to date:
The home run by Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza was her first home run since April 24 against Utah. pic.twitter.com/sFOkAqDqtM
— Troy Hutchison (@THutch1995) May 29, 2021
CDO grad and Arizona standout pitcher Kenzie Fowler, now a college softball broadcaster, offers her reaction to the win and to Palomino-Cardoza’s home run:
CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS
This team!!!!! The softball gods KNOW. #4COACH
— Kenzie Fowler Quinn (@KenzieFowler19) May 29, 2021
Who else just felt that APC Homerun in their SOUL 🔥🔥
— Kenzie Fowler Quinn (@KenzieFowler19) May 29, 2021
Dejah Mulipola’s intensity and confidence has rubbed off on this group of seniors:
they’re so fun to play behind. LOVE this group ♥️ https://t.co/QOZiAdon4U
— Dejah Mulipola (@dejahmulipola) May 30, 2021
Another former Arizona standout weighs in:
MY HEART 😭🥺♥️ https://t.co/c64rOPdpLj
— Mo Mercado (@MercadoMo) May 30, 2021
Hard to believe but at this time last year Carlie Scupin was graduating from Tucson High School ….
Tucson High grad Carlie Scupin comes through with a two-run single. Arizona three outs away from the WCWS with a 4-1 lead top of seventh. pic.twitter.com/Nt5k6B8cwK
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 29, 2021
Candrea has talked about being proud of his players, past and present, for who they are not only on the field but even more so off of it, and Jenny Dalton-Hill is an example:
Thank you Justin. Hard to hold back tears when you talk about someone as special as @CoachCandreaUA https://t.co/fZE5qavgqw
— Jenny Dalton-Hill (@JennyDaltonHill) May 30, 2021
Denham deserves much respect for how she kept battling against Arkansas on Saturday. Much like Hanah Bowen did in Friday’s 10-4 win, Denham prevented the Razorbacks from gaining sustained momentum. She kept shutting the door.
Thank you to the countless hours you invested to give me the confidence and courage to be who I am. I am forever fearfully and wonderfully made. I love you coach mike ❤️ https://t.co/HkygfEkJ6X
— Alyssa Denham (@DenhamAlyssa) May 30, 2021
Erika Hanson-Barnes, once a member of Arizona’s softball team, was seen on ESPN’s TV cameras throughout sitting in the stands enjoying this one …
My favorite part of post-season #Mayhem is the superstition! It’s taken very seriously over here. Let’s go @ArizonaSoftball! Have a day Cats! #BearDown #iykyk pic.twitter.com/7IUxO57ayW
— Erika Hanson Barnes (@ebarnes7) May 29, 2021
Takes a G.O.A.T. to know one, right?
Let’s go!!! What @CoachCandreaUA built at Arizona is amazing!! 🐐
Again….on to the next one. https://t.co/rqqm7FtpLM— ADIA BARNES COPPA 🐻⬇️🌵👨👨👧👦❤️💙 (@AdiaBarnes) May 29, 2021
Proud family moment: Former Arizona standout Toni Mascarenas — Palomino-Cardoza’s aunt — loved what she saw from her niece’s home run:
LETTSSSS GOOOOO!! Way to get me outttta my seat 32!!!! THATS HOW YOU HIT!!!!!!!! #BEBETTER https://t.co/p9ouutJZ3D
— Toni Mascarenas (@tmas32) May 29, 2021
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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