Arizona softball heads into Big 12 play red hot

No. 14 Wildcats open conference schedule with three-game series against BYU

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Arizona softball enters its second season in the Big 12 Conference on a roll, having won five consecutive games by the run rule and seven of its last eight overall. The Wildcats will open conference play with a three-game series against BYU starting on Thursday.

Why it matters

Arizona had a strong first season in the Big 12 in 2025, finishing second in the regular season and reaching the conference tournament championship game. The Wildcats are looking to build on that success and establish themselves as a top contender in the league, which features several other highly ranked teams.

The details

Over the weekend, the Wildcats outscored their opponents 48-4 at the Hillenbrand Invitational, including a 12-2 win over Long Beach State after scoring eight runs in the first inning. Arizona sophomore infielder Sereniti Trice hit .714 with eight runs scored and zero strikeouts at the invitational.

  • Arizona opens Big 12 play with a three-game series against BYU starting on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • Last year, Arizona went 17-7 in its first season in the Big 12 but opened league play with a 2-1 series loss to UCF.

The players

Caitlin Lowe

Arizona's head softball coach.

Sereniti Trice

Arizona's sophomore infielder who had a strong performance at the Hillenbrand Invitational.

Sydney Stewart

Arizona's senior player who transferred from Washington and is enjoying the experience of playing in different regions as part of the Big 12 Conference.

Gianna Mares

BYU's junior pitcher/outfielder who is a Salpointe Catholic alumna.

Regan Shockey

Arizona's junior utility player who was named Softball America's Defender of the Week.

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What they’re saying

“I really liked what I saw this weekend as far as complete performances. I thought we were able to provide momentum on the mound, provide momentum defensively and provide momentum offensively. I thought we were way more confident in any given situation offensively.”

— Caitlin Lowe, Head Coach (tucson.com)

“I think it's just ideal for the team to kind of have that confidence, I think that was important for us to kind of fine tune our hitting, our defense, our pitching, all of that. So I think we're in a good spot right now.”

— Sereniti Trice, Sophomore Infielder (tucson.com)

“When I was at my previous school, it's in the Pac-12 years, we stay on the west coast and now that we get to kind of experience traveling to different places like the Midwest ... I think it's just cool to see a few different places, play different teams and just knowing the Big 12 is high in competition.”

— Sydney Stewart, Senior (tucson.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.