SALT LAKE CITY – Seventeenth-ranked Arizona softball (22-10, 2-2 Pac-12) tallied 13 hits, one off its season best, in a 6-4 victory over Utah (13-15-1, 0-4 Pac-12) at the brand new Utah Softball Stadium.
Arizona scored four runs in the first inning and held on for the victory. Mandie Perez and Chelsea Goodacre each had three hits for the Wildcats in the victory.
Nancy Bowling pitched the first three innings and gave up three runs on five hits and two walks. Shelby Babcock (11-3) gave up six hits and one run in four innings of relief to get credit for the win.
Arizona's four first-inning runs came on a double by Goodacre, a sacrifice fly by Lauren Young and a two-run single by Perez.
After Utah cut the lead to 4-3, Hallie Wilson singled home Perez in the top of the fifth to make it 5-3.
The three-game series continues Friday night in Salt Lake City.
