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Danielle O’Toole celebrates her victory over Auburn in the first game of the Super Regionals, improving her record against SEC teams this year to 5-1. (ESPN screen shot)
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Mike Candrea on ESPN, about Danielle O'Toole: "She is everything that we were hoping, and more." #ArizonaWildcats
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) May 29, 2016
Information from the Arizona media relations department contributed to this report
Arizona lefty ace Danielle O’Toole limited host Auburn to only two hits in seven innings to win her eighth consecutive game, fourth straight in the postseason, in the 5-3 victory Saturday night.
The victory puts the Wildcats (40-19) one win away from clinching the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional with the second game scheduled Sunday at 11 a.m. MST on ESPN. Should Auburn (52-10) force a third game, the if-necessary game would be 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, and will be televised on ESPNU.
Arizona is one win away from its 23rd trip to the Women’s College World Series because of O’Toole’s pitching and its effective small-ball hitting — producing with an abundance of infield hits, bunts and RBI groundouts.
O’Toole (26-10) finished put the clamps on one of the nation’s top offenses. Auburn entered the Super Regional round tied for the NCAA with 8.31 runs a game. Two of three runs scored by the Tigers were unearned.
Arizona’s lineup produced nine hits, most in front of the green of the outfield, against two Auburn pitchers. All of the hits were singles. The Wildcats, who rallied back from a 2-1 deficit, used their speed on the base paths to rally against Auburn.
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Danielle O'Toole allows only two hits as @UA_Softball takes Game 1 over Auburn! #D1softball pic.twitter.com/aCM6Qka0x4
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 29, 2016
Danielle O'Toole 5-1 vs. the almighty SEC this year w/wins over Auburn, Alabama, LSU & Tennessee #ArizonaWildcats pic.twitter.com/pmJWg7ap86
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 29, 2016
Mike Candrea always rides his ace as far as he can; not even a question that O'Toole will start Game 2 tomorrow.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) May 29, 2016
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Arizona shortstop Mo Mercado had three RBIs. Center fielder Eva Watson went 2-for-2 and scored three of Arizona’s five runs. All of her runs were scored off infield plays.
The Wildcats — who have not qualified for the WCWS since 2010 — entered the postseason with a 1-12 record in their last 13 postseason games away from Hillenbrand Stadium with no super-regional victories in that span.
In four games, the Wildcats are unbeaten, all coming on the road, three of which were to SEC opponents Tennessee and Auburn.
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#ArizonaWildcats sitting in a good https://t.co/NYwNbZxPtb that wins Game 1 wins #NCAASoftball Super Regionals 84% of time.
— David Kelly (@DavidKellyTNN) May 29, 2016
Who's driving to Auburn tomorrow? I am!! To watch Arizona play!! #oohooh
— Taryne Mowatt (@tarynemowatt) May 29, 2016
Classic Arizona softball!!!!!!!!
— Taryne Mowatt (@tarynemowatt) May 29, 2016
Way to take it upon yourself O'Toole #gutsy
— Taryne Mowatt (@tarynemowatt) May 28, 2016
#BearDown @UA_Softball pic.twitter.com/NhvbSjX0wU
— Jennie Finch (@JennieFinch) May 29, 2016
Yesterday, Mike Candrea said this. pic.twitter.com/D2eLjoISRz
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 29, 2016
☝️ more. pic.twitter.com/VcdZ7UF1jN
— Arizona Softball (@UA_Softball) May 29, 2016
We played really good situational softball. Now we gotta get ready to do it again tomorrow. – @CoachCandreaUA pic.twitter.com/DIZd5c0SSq
— Arizona Softball (@UA_Softball) May 29, 2016
Yeah, you deserve a rest, @Oh_tooly3 pic.twitter.com/uWu8CmbA9l
— Arizona Softball (@UA_Softball) May 29, 2016
Eva Watson a lot of smiling tonight. Another inf single loads bases w/1 out T6th Game tied at 2 #ArizonaWildcats pic.twitter.com/feHPbZIaNV
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 29, 2016
#ArizonaWildcats softball great @JennyDaltonHill commenting on today's UA-Auburn Super Regional game for ESPN pic.twitter.com/MuJFX2aip9
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 28, 2016
Mike Candrea's beard never looked so good (because he sports it at a super regional) #ArizonaWildcats pic.twitter.com/O5SxnS6fiY
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 28, 2016
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.
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