LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Seventeenth-ranked Arizona softball (27-14) stranded 16 runners in two games Tuesday and the Wildcats split a doubleheader with New Mexico State (27-14) at the New Mexico State Softball Complex.
New Mexico State won the opener 3-2 on Emma Adams' two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning before Arizona bounced back with an 8-1 win in the second game.
Game 1 – New Mexico State 3, Arizona 2
Adams' home run wiped out a 2-1 Arizona lead and gave the win to pitcher Alex Newman (14-8). Estela Pinon (9-5) took the loss, giving up six hits, five runs and three walks while striking out five.
Arizona stranded nine runners, including six in scoring position.
Mandie Perez and Chelsea Suitos had run-scoring singles for the Wildcats to give them a 2-1 lead.
Game 2 – Arizona 8, New Mexico State 1
Brigette Del Ponte hit a grand slam hit a grand slam and Chelsea Goodacre knocked a three-run homer to lead the Wildcats to an 8-1 victory in Game Two.
Shelby Babcock and Nancy Bowling combined in the circle to limit the Aggies to just a single run. Babcock (14-5) allowed one run on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Bowling retired each of the six batters she faced, four by way of the strikeout.
Hallie Wilson, Chelsea Suitos and Del Ponte had two hits each to lead Arizona's offense. Del Ponte's home run capped a five-run third inning, while Goodacre went deep in the sixth to round out the scoring. The homer was Goodacre’s team-leading 14th of the year.
The Wildcats get two days of rest before heading to Oregon for a three-game series with the Ducks starting Saturday.
