Tucson Standard

Arizona rallied from a 4-1 deficit during the seventh inning only to strand the tying run at third base and the winning run at second, dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker to Stanford in the Wildcats’ final regular-season game.

The team took two of three games at Hillenbrand Stadium, leaving Arizona’s NCAA Softball Tournament hopes in doubt ahead of the May 15 tournament selection. 

“We’ll be watching tomorrow and whatever happens, happens,” said Arizona’s Carlie Scupin in a story by the Arizona Daily Star. “The important thing is, if we do make it, keeping that seventh-inning mentality.”

The Wildcats (33-20) earned a spot in the Columbia, Missouri Regional against Illinois, according to the NCAA Tournament bracket. Though the team made it into the tournament with a chance to go to the College World Series, the Wildcats weren’t happy with the way they made it.

“You want to go into that day making it undeniable, but that’s just not us this year,” Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe said. “We’re just hoping for more games to play in.”

Senior Hanah Bowen pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts in her final home game.

“A lot of emotions out there today,” said Bowen, one of three seniors in the game. “Just tried to stay in the present and take it one pitch at a time.”