Even though Jillian Celis had a three-run home run disallowed after a runner left early, the No. 7 Washington Huskies still found a way to score double-digit runs for the second straight day, winning 11-3 in six innings and earning a series victory over the No. 22 Arizona Wildcats.
After the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Huskies immediately tied the game up in the second after Sydney Stewart hit a two-run home run, her third of the season. The sophomore catcher went 4 for 4 on the day, driving in 4 runs on three extra base hits.
Junior Olivia Johnson put coach Heather Tarr’s team ahead with a solo homer in the fourth inning before the Huskies broke the game open in the fifth thanks to a double from Kinsey Fiedler and a two-run single from Stewart. Then in the sixth inning, Brooke Nelson put the contest out of reach with a grand slam, her fourth homer of the season.
Nelson couldn’t be stopped at the plate, going 3 for 3 with 5 runs batted in and combined with Stewart who was batting behind her, Washington’s seventh and eighth hitters in the order went a combined 7 for 7. The bottom of the order was responsible for driving in 9 of the Huskies’ 11 runs, displaying why Tarr’s team has one of the country’s best and deepest lineups.
GRAND SLAM BROOKE NELSON‼️
🐶 11 🐱 3
📺 Pac-12 Networks
📲 https://t.co/BMjLwo30T5 pic.twitter.com/Vb59RDEHS3— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) March 17, 2024
The Huskies moved to 20-3 overall and 4-1 in Pac-12 play with the victory, while Arizona fell to 19-7-1, and 2-3 in conference play. Washington will attempt to sweep the series in Tucson on Sunday at noon.