OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Dejah Mulipola's two-run homer to center field in the top of the eighth inning powered Arizona to a 3-1 win over Washington on Thursday in the opening game of the Women's College World Series.
Mulipola's 23rd homer of the season helped the Wildcats (48-12) beat the third-seeded Huskies for the first time in four tries this season.
It was a triumphant return to the World Series for sixth-seeded Arizona, which has 23 appearances but hadn't qualified since 2010.
Washington pitcher Taran Alvelo pitched a complete game and struck out 11, but the third-seeded Huskies (50-8) failed her by leaving nine runners on base.
Jessie Harper hit her nation-leading 29th homer of the season to put Arizona up 1-0 in the sixth inning. Just as soon as Arizona pitcher Taylor McQuillin stepped into the circle with the lead, she lost it. Washington's Sami Reynolds took McQuillin's first pitch in the bottom of the sixth over the fence to tie the score.
In the seventh, Washington's Amirah Milloy and Sis Bates both beat out throws to first for infield singles to put two on with one out, but McQuillin escaped and eventually claimed the complete game victory.
