TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona softball team run-ruled fourth-ranked Alabama before shutting out Grand Canyon on Sunday to sweep the Hillenbrand Invitational and improve to a perfect 9-0 on the season.
In the early game, Arizona became the first team since Florida in 2011 to run-rule Alabama with an 8-0, five-inning victory over the Crimson Tide. Shelby Babcock threw a two-hit gem while Mo Mercado supplied five RBI, with four coming on a grand slam.
In the tournament finale, Kellie Fox and Katiyana Mauga homered in the Wildcats' 5-0 victory over Grand Canyon.
The two shutouts gave Arizona pitchers seven for the season in nine games. The pitching staff, which boasts a remarkable 0.41 ERA, has given up a total of three hits this season and gave up just a single run over the weekend.
The Arizona offense hit three homers on Sunday, bringing the Wildcats' weekend total to 14, including four off the bat of Fox. On the season, Arizona has 17 homers and is hitting .408 as a team.
ARIZONA 8, ALABAMA 0
Alabama had not been run-ruled since the 2011 Women's College World Series, and Arizona had not run-ruled a top-10 team since 2010. Both of those things changed Sunday, when the Wildcats defeated the Crimson Tide for the second consecutive game, this time in five innings.
Babcock (2-0) threw a two-hit complete-game shutout, striking out seven Alabama hitters and walking just three.
Arizona took advantage of eight Alabama walks, six of which came from the starter Leslie Jury (3-1), who lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits. Reliever Sydney Littlejohn allowed two runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Mercado's first-inning grand slam set the tone for Arizona, which added two runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth. It was the freshman's first career homer.
Alabama threatened in the top of the first when it put two runners on against Babcock. A great defensive play by Fox at shortstop and two Babcock strikeouts would get her out of the inning unscathed, however.
In the bottom half, Arizona took advantage of inaccuracy by Jury. The Alabama pitcher walked the bases loaded, but was one strike from getting out of the jam until Mercado took a 1-2 pitch to left for a grand slam.
The Crimson Tide would not get a runner into scoring position the rest of the way against Babcock, while the Cats continued to attack.
In the second, after retiring the first two hitters of the inning, Jury allowed a hit and walked two batters to load the bases for the second straight inning. Chelsea Goodacre drew a bases-loaded walk to chase Jury in favor of Littlejohn, who was greeted with an RBI walk of her own when she threw four straight balls to Mauga.
In the fourth inning, A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Mercado, who grounded into a fielder's choice to make the score 7-0. Lauren Young followed with an RBI single to left to give Arizona n 8-0 lead.
Babcock walked one in the fifth but did not let Haylie McCleney advance past first as she secured the 8-0 run-rule victory.
ARIZONA 5, GRAND CANYON 0
Nancy Bowling struck out a career-high 13 batters as Arizona cruised to a 5-0 victory over Grand Canyon to close the Hillenbrand Invitational. It was the Wildcats' second 5-0 win over the Antelopes in the event.
Fox hit her fifth homer of the season while Mauga added her second of the year.
Bowling's 13 strikeouts were the most for Arizona since Kenzie Fowler struck out 15 New Mexico State batters on May 21, 2011. The sophomore tossed a complete-game shutout and did not walk a batter, allowing just seven hits while improving to 3-0 on the year.
Mauga led off the second inning with a solo homer to open the scoring. Later in the inning, Mercado, who had singled, and Lavine, who had reached on a fielder's choice, were on the corners, and Mercado scored on a double steal to give Arizona the 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats were back at it in the third. Chelsea Suitos led the frame off with a walk, setting up Fox's two-run homer, which provided some insurance. Kelsey Rodriguez followed with a single, moved to second on a fielder's choice and scored on her sister Courtney Rodriguez's single to center.
Arizona would only get one baserunner the rest of the way, but Bowling had all the support she needed.
