Lindsay Lopez’s heart raced before a pitch was even thrown. The Arizona native understood the importance of the Territorial Cup series very well.
As the softball world’s attention turned toward Tempe, Lopez stood in the center of the drama at Farrington Stadium. She needed one more out to save the one-run lead and end the Sun Devils’ five-game losing streak to their in-state rival. The Wildcats had loaded the bases and All-American Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza stepped into the box in the top of the seventh.
Palomino-Cardoza fouled off five pitches. It felt like the six-year senior was destined to win the battle against Lopez, the sophomore that had never experienced the rivalry firsthand.