Tucson Standard

 The Arizona Wildcats softball team defeated Missouri to earn its eighth consecutive trip to the super regionals.

This came after team members wondered whether they would make it to the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.

Devyn Netz shut the Tigers down with a complete game, 1-0 shutout on May 22 in the Columbia, MO regional, punching Arizona’s ticket to the super regionals for the 16th time. 

“We've been trying to put those full-package games together,” Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe said, according to AzCentral.com. “Very proud of our fight all weekend.”

Netz pitched her second shutout of the season, allowing just two hits on three strikeouts and walking three. Missouri managed only six hits in Arizona’s two victories over the Tigers.

“We’ve been tested like we never been tested before this year, and they let it make them stronger,” Lowe told All Sports Tucson. “I think it really showed today.”

The Wildcats (36-20) then advanced to the Women’s College World Series with two consecutive victories over Mississippi State. Arizona is one of eight teams to reach the final round, set for June 2 through June 9 or 10 in Oklahoma City, according to NCAA.com.

“It’s special for these women,” Lowe told All Sports Tucson. “I mean, I’ve just had a backseat while watching them work. Ever since the fall, I knew we had the talent. We’ve just been trying to prove it to ourselves this whole time that we are the team that we believe we are and it doesn’t really matter what other people think.”

Arizona is unbeaten under Lowe in NCAA Tournament play so far.

“We put in the work every single day and I’ve watched them do that,” Lowe said. “There were some bumps along the way. But, at the end of the day, I like that they let it make them stronger. I’ve never seen them closer than they are today. That was just exciting for me to see that all that work paid off for them.”