TEMPE--Nevada softball earned the biggest win in program history with a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Arizona on Sunday at the Kajikawa Tournament at Arizona State.
The lone run of the game came in the second inning when Michelle Beach came off the bench for a pinch-hit single to give Nevada all the offense it would need for one of the biggest upsets in school history, regardless of sport.
Pitchers Jordan McPherson (five innings) and Katie Holverson (two) combined on the shutout. McPherson got the win and Holverson earned the save.
The Cats' last chance typified the lost opportunities. Leadoff batter Britany Lastrapes led off the top of the seventh with a double off the centerfield fence. After K'Lee Arredondo struck out and Sam Banister lined sharply to third, a wild pitch moved Lastrapes to third. Jenae Leles walked, stole second without being challenged, and then Stacie Chambers walked to load the bases.
The Cats threatened in the top of the third, but stranded three runners. Adrienne Acton and Sam Banister drew walks, and Jenae Leles beat out a two-out single off the pitcher's glove. But Nevada pitcher Jordan McPherson got Stacie Chambers with a low pitch for a called third strike.
Again in the fourth UA moved a runner into scoring position again in the fourth, but with two outs pinch hitter Sarah Amakine lined to right field. That was the six runner left on base to that point.
The Cats loaded the bases again in the fifth, and again came up empty. K'Lee Arredondo reached on an error, Leles got another infield hit and Chambers walked. Callista Balko hit into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
Nevada reliever Katie Halverson came on for McPherson and set down the side in the top of the sixth, including a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of UA's order.