Devyn Netz throws complete game shutout, hits home run in win over San Diego State

If you want to boil it down to pitching and hitting, the scoreline could read Devyn Netz 1, San Diego State 0. It’s a team game, though, so the box score reads No. 12 Arizona Wildcats 1, SDSU Aztecs 0.

The redshirt senior threw a three-hit complete game shutout and hit a solo home run to lift the Wildcats (39-9, 14-7 Big 12) to a road win over the Aztecs (29-15, 13-6 MWC) on Friday evening.

SDSU is the last opponent in the top 40 of the RPI that Arizona will play in the regular season, so positive results are critical to the Wildcats’ hopes to host the postseason. The Aztecs were ranked No. 38 in the RPI coming into the game. UA sits at No. 12. After the two-game set against SDSU, Arizona only has No. 74 Houston left to play in the regular season.

It worked out the way the Wildcats needed it to, but it was never a comfortable game. Neither team got a player past first base until Paige Dimler hit a pinch-hit double to lead off the sixth inning. It was one of just five hits for Arizona.

The visiting team couldn’t take advantage. Dimler had pinch hit for Kiki Escobar, who then re-entered the game. The hit-and-run was put on with Dakota Kennedy at bat. Kennedy hit a soft liner to shortstop that was caught in the air. Escobar had no hopes of getting back to base. Just like that, Arizona’s best chance to score was wiped away and there were two outs.

Regan Shockey was initially called out trying to stretch a single into a double, but a review proved that she got into second before the tag. That hurt even more since Escobar could have been standing at second when Shockey made contact.

Kaiah Altmeyer wasn’t able to get the two-out hit to score Shockey, so the baserunning error was critical.

Just don’t tell Netz.

Arizona’s pitcher let a runner get to second on a single and a wild pitch, but she kept the Aztecs off the board for the sixth straight inning to send her team to bat with no runs on the board.

The first hitter of the top of the seventh was Netz. She didn’t mess around. She sent the 1-1 pitch out to left field for a solo home run. Arizona had a 1-0 lead. The next three Wildcats sat down in order, but Netz and her defense just needed three outs to win.

Netz started by striking out Jazmin Williams, but Jade Ignacio reached on a fielding error by Escobar. Netz struck out the next two to end the game.

Despite the defensive lapse in the bottom of the seventh, Netz also had her defense pick her up at times. She didn’t give up a hit through the first two innings, but Grace Uribe tried to end that in the most painful way possible to lead off the third.

Uribe took the first pitch of her at-bat and hit it hard to right-center. Shockey reached over the fence to rob the Aztecs of a solo shot that would have given them the lead.

Netz finally gave up her first hit of the game two batters later, but it was a single. She surrendered just three hits in seven innings. She did not walk a batter. She struck out five, including the final two of the game.

In addition to her play in centerfield, Shockey had the only multi-hit game for Arizona. She went 2 for 3. Dimler (1-1), Schepp (1-3), and Netz (1-3) had the Wildcats’ other three hits. The hits by Dimler and Netz went for extra bases.

SDSU starting pitcher Cece Cellura matched Netz for most of the game. The sophomore induced repeated soft grounders to hold Arizona to five hits. She struck out three without giving up a walk. Her one big mistake came against her counterpart, who was in a position to help herself at the plate.

Netz improved to 19-5 on the season. Her ERA dropped to 2.14. She stood at 2.27 coming into Friday’s game. Her lowest season ERA coming into this year was 2.95 as a freshman in 2021.

The Wildcats return to the field for Game 2 of a two-game set against the Aztecs on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon MST. The game will stream on the Mountain West Network, which has an app for various smart TVs. Stats are available via StatBroadcast.

Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics