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Nancy Bowling (6) scores off of Tamara Statman’s walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth in Arizona’s 4-3 win over Tennessee (ESPN screen shot)
The Wildcats will face their old ASU nemesis in the Super Regional next week.
Arizona will play at Auburn in Super Regional. Tigers coached by ex-ASU boss Clint Myers (who succeeded Candrea at Central Arizona in 1987).
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) May 22, 2016
Auburn is coming off a sweep of its regional. Arizona swept through the Knoxville regional.
#RoadToWCWS For 2nd time in school history, @Auburn_Softball advances to Super Regionals!! pic.twitter.com/nApsbRLFbf
— ESPNU (@ESPNU) May 22, 2016
The Sun Devils miss their former coach, who in eight years in Tempe took them to seven College World Series appearances with two national titles. This tweet from a former ASU quarterback last year.
It's a shame ASU couldn't find a way to keep Clint Myers as Head Softball coach! He's a great coach and a great man!
— Rudy Carpenter (@rudygcarp12) May 31, 2015
Strength vs. Strength
Arizona's Danielle O'Toole will have to deal next week with Kasey Cooper (.431 avg., 19 HRs), the SEC Player of the Year.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) May 22, 2016
Support from a legend. Another former Arizona standout Jenny Dalton-Hill called the Auburn regional for ESPN this past weekend. Wonder if she will communicate with Candrea about what she observed from the Tigers.
Go Cats! Way to #BearDown!!! 😻😻 @UA_Softball @CoachCandreaUA
— Jennie Finch (@JennieFinch) May 21, 2016
Another former Arizona great helped coach Ole Miss to one game from the Super Regionals as an assistant. The Rebels lost to Oklahoma in the “if necessary” game …
Pretty damn excited about it!!! https://t.co/aNBLceHM84
— Taryne Mowatt (@tarynemowatt) May 22, 2016
The clutch pitching of junior Danielle O’Toole and freshman Taylor McQuillin was huge in Arizona’s victory.
Twice now Arizona pitching has worked its way out of serious jams https://t.co/XQhFpHDpOs
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 22, 2016
The home plate ump Mark Bartling, whose strike zone was out of whack to say the least, tossed Tennessee co-coach Karen Weekly after she argued a called strike that looked like a hit-by-pitch play in the sixth. Earlier in the game, Bartling called an obvious strike a ball that eventually led to a three-run homer off O’Toole. Digging through the archives, Bartling ejected Arizona coach Mike Candrea from a game in 2002, the first time that happened to Candrea in 17 years at Hillenbrand Stadium.
This: Candrea was ejected for first time in coaching career in '02 by today's controversial home plate ump Bartling https://t.co/w7np0hhBQ3
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 22, 2016
Conquest. Now, let’s see if they can raise that “A” over Auburn’s “A” next week.
Raising the A in Knoxville, Tennessee! pic.twitter.com/KSOztTjWbY
— Arizona Softball (@UA_Softball) May 22, 2016
O’Toole remained involved as a spectator after leaving the game in the fourth. She returned later to get Arizona out of a serious jam in the top of the seventh.
Hughes' groundout scores Watson (14) to cut Tennessee's lead to 3-2 B5. Danielle O'Toole supportive (far left) pic.twitter.com/OvUeTn5C91
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 22, 2016
I can see that — both ways
Auburn softball will host Arizona in the Super Regional next weekend. Arizona's football helmets trick me into thinking they are Auburn.
— War Blogle (@WarBlogle) May 22, 2016
Walkoff single for Arizona’s Tamara Statman sends @UA_Softball to Super Regionals! #RoadToWCWShttps://t.co/jrr63fJMiw
— ESPNU (@ESPNU) May 22, 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.
