Arizona softball clawed its way to a 5-3 victory over Auburn in game 1, moving the Wildcats one win away from Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series.
Junior left-hander Danielle O'Toole pitched a two-hitter with five strikeouts against one of the nation's top offenses. She limited the Tigers, who entered the weekend tied for the NCAA-lead, averaging 8.31 runs/game, to just three runs, two of which were unearned.
The offense piled up nine hits, mostly of the infield variety, against two Auburn pitchers. The Wildcats used their speed to overwhelm the Auburn defense. Arizona struck for one run in the third, one in the fifth and three go-ahead runs in the sixth to come back from a 2-1 deficit.
Mo Mercado batted in three runs for the Cats continuing to provide Arizona with big at-bats in big situations. Eva Watson went 2-for-2 and scored three of Arizona's five runs.
O'Toole improved to 26-10 on the season, including a 4-0 mark in the Wildcats' four games this postseason.
The Wildcats entered this postseason with a 1-12 record in their last 13 postseason games away from Hillenbrand Stadium, and not a single super regional victory in that span. In four games in 2016, the Wildcats are 4-0, all coming on the road, three of which were to SEC opponents.
Arizona is one win away from returning the WCWS, where it hasn't been since 2010. UA is in search of its 23rd trip overall the Women's College World Series.
Arizona and Auburn decide the series on Sunday. Game 2 of the Super Regional will begin at 11 a.m. MST on ESPN. Should Auburn force a third game, the if-necessary game would be 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, and televised on ESPNU.
