Arizona eliminated from Women’s College World Series

The Arizona Wildcats’ softball season ended Saturday in a way it had never ended before — via the mercy rule.

Alabama jumped all over Arizona from the opening pitch and scored a 14-0 win to eliminate the Wildcats from the Women’s College World series.

The 14-run loss was the worst in Arizona softball history, topping the school’s 15-2 loss to Cal State Fullerton in 2003.

In addition, the Crimson Tide set a WCWS record for most runs scored in a game.

UA starting pitcher Sarah Akimine faced only eight batters before senior reliever Jen Martinez came in. She struggled in her short appearance, leading Arizona coach Mike Candrea to pull her out of the game in favor of Lindsey Sisk.

But by the time the dust settled after the third inning, Alabama had 10 runs on the board. The powerful Wildcat offense couldn’t get anything going against Tide hurler Charlotte Morgan.

With the lead still in double digits after the fifth inning, the game was called.

Arizona finished the season 46-17.

Florida 3, UA 0

Francesca Enea and Megan Bush homered and Stacey Nelson threw a two-hitter against the nation’s top scoring offense in Florida’s 3-0 win over Arizona on Thursday night.

Nelson (40-3) gave up singles to the Wildcats’ first two batters, but then didn’t give up another hit for her 21st shutout of the season. The Gators (61-3) haven’t given up a run in 38 of their 61 wins this season.

“I never, the whole game, really felt out of trouble,” Nelson said.

Candrea gambled by starting Sisk instead of ace Akamine. Sisk (13-5) had struck out a career-high 14 in relief as Arizona rallied to beat Stanford and advance to the World Series, but gave up both home runs before being relieved by Akamine in the second inning.

Akamine then threw five innings of scoreless relief for the eight-time champion Wildcats (46-16).

“One of our toughest situations we’ve been in this year has really been unpredictable as far as our pitchers. We kind of rolled the dice and thought Sisk would be a good matchup,” said Candrea, whose pitching staff has the highest ERA in program history this season. “A couple bad pitches and we’re down 3-0.”

Arizona came into the World Series as the nation’s top team in hitting (.344) and scoring (8.2 runs per game) and with an NCAA record 134 home runs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.