TUCSON, Ariz. -- One day after Danielle O'Toole threw a no-hitter, it was Arizona's offense that stole the show in a 12-0, mercy-shortened victory to help the fifth-ranked Wildcats clinch the series vs. No. 6 Washington.
 
The Wildcats' run-rule of a top-10 team was its first since an 8-0, five-inning victory over No. 4 Alabama in 2014. The 12 runs vs. a top-10 team marked the most since a 14-2 victory over No. 7 ASU in 2010.
 
An eight-run first inning got the scoring started for the Wildcats, who have outscored opponents 74-6 in first innings this season. UA's 74 runs in first innings are more than double its pitching staff has allowed total, all year, in all innings combined (32).
 
Freshmen Alyssa Palomino and Dejah Mulipola led the way for the UA offense. Palomino was 3-for-3 with four RBI and her eighth homer of the season. Mulipola went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Taylor McQuillin (10-0) followed O'Toole's no-hitter with a gem of her own, shutting out the Huskies in a complete-game two-hitter. The sophomore struck out five and walked two. Just one Husky moved beyond first base in the game.
 
The Huskies, who entered the series third in the nation in batting average (.361) and sixth in runs per game (7.14), have been shut out with two total hits the first two games of the series.
 
The victory marked the 16th consecutive win for the Wildcats, who improved to 31-1 (5-0 Pac-12) with the win. Arizona's 16-game winning streak is its longest since winning 16 straight in 2010. A win on Sunday would mark Arizona's longest winning streak since beginning the 2005 season 21-0. A sweep on Sunday would also be Arizona's first over Washington since the conference moved to three-game series in 2010.
 
But most notably, a win on Sunday would be the 1,500th in the career of head coach Mike Candrea. The all-time wins leader in NCAA Division I softball will become just the sixth coach, in any sport, to surpass 1,500 Division I victories with UA's next win. He trails only Michigan's Carol Hutchins, who has 1,505 total wins including time in a lower NCAA division, in NCAA softball history.
 
UA improved to 5-0 in conference play, its first 5-0 start since 2004.
 
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, sending 14 batters to the plate and tallying eight runs on nine hits. Two players, Mandie Perez and Dejah Mulipola, each went 2-for-2 in the first inning. Washington has two total hits all series. Perez, Mulipola, Palomino, Mo Mercado, Jessie Harper and Reyna Carranco all batted in runs in the first inning.
 
In the third, Perez and Mulipola reached base to start the inning. Palomino followed with an RBI single before a walk to Katiyana Mauga loaded the bases for Mercado, who hit a pitch to the warning track for a sacrifice fly. Reyna Carranco later drew a bases-loaded walk to put Arizona up 11-0 after three.
 
Palomino added a solo homer in the fourth to make it 12-0.
 
Up Next: Arizona goes for the series sweep on Sunday at noon on the Pac-12 Networks.
 
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