With a pinch runner in the 10th inning of game two in the Women’s College World Series, it was a lot easier for the University of Arizona to take home the championship title. After losing the first game of the series 3-0 on June 4, the Wildcats jumped back in the series on June 5 and 6 to defend their championship. This is the third time Arizona has won back-to-back NCAA tournament titles (also 1996-1997 and 1993-1994).

Anyone watching the series on ESPN2 for the three nights in a row can agree that the second game was by far the most exciting. With extra innings and a 0-0 score up until the end, family friends, and fans alike were at the edge of their seats.

Mostly though, the WCWS was a battle between Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott and Arizona’s Taryne Mowatt. Mowatt earned her 41st victory of the season which tied her with Alicia Hollowell for the most season victories at Arizona. In game two, Mowatt improved her strikeout record to 511 when she struck out 11 Tennessee batters.

Abbott also had 11 strikeouts in that game, but did allow one run, which made all the difference.

In the tenth inning, Sophomore, Sam Banister hit a single for the second time in that game to get on base. Junior Danielle Rodriguez then came in as a pinch runner for Banister. Freshman Sarah Akamine made the first out of the inning, but still moved Rodriguez to second. Catcher, Callista Balko, who had a 0-19 WCWS at-bat average, put down a great bunt, moving Rodriguez to third. Adrienne Acton slammed a fielder’s choice and the audience witnessed the closest run for home in history (okay, maybe not history – but it was that exciting). This was the game-winning run, and arguably the championship-winning play.

There was no stopping number four ranked Arizona the next evening on June 6 when they defeated the Lady Vol’s for the second night in a row, 5-0. After a dog-pile in the circle, and the WCWS trophy hoisted in the air, the University of Arizona had been crowned the champions for 2007.