TUCSON, Ariz. -- The 16th-ranked Arizona softball team won its first games at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Friday, earning a 1-0 victory in the opener over Nebraska and then pulling out a dramatic 5-3 win over Drake to close the night.
The Wildcats improved to 5-2 on the season with the two victories.
Game 1: Arizona 1, Nebraska 0
Shelby Babcock pitched a four-hit shutout as Arizona defeated Nebraska to open the tournament.
The previously undefeated Cornhuskers were averaging nine runs a game coming in but ran into a buzzsaw in Babcock. The junior struck out five and walked two in her shutout and improved to 3-2 on the year.
UA had five hits from five different players. Hallie Wilson’s double in the fourth, though, proved to be the difference. Chelsea Suitos’ bunt to lead off the inning was gathered in by pitcher Tatum Edwards, but Edwards sailed the throw to first, allowing Suitos to head to second. Wilson then doubled off the center-field wall to score Suitos and give the Cats a 1-0 lead, which was all they'd need.
Game 2: Arizona 5, Drake 3
A three-run sixth inning was enough for Arizona to come away with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over Drake.
The Bulldogs used a two-run homer in the top of the first to draw first blood against the Cats in freshman Nancy Bowling’s first collegiate start. Arizona would have to fight from behind the remainder of the night until Brigette Del Ponte’s sac fly plated the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Bowling lasted two innings in her first start since suffering a concussion 13 days prior.
Bowling allowed two runs on three hits while walking one in two innings of work. She was relieved by Estela Piñon, who tossed five innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits and striking out five. Piñon earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the season.
Del Ponte’s sac fly in the sixth marked the second time in four games that the senior had given Arizona the lead late in a game. Del Ponte hit a walkoff solo shot against San Diego State last Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic.
The Cats were outhit by the Bulldogs, as the Drake pitching combination of Jordan Gronewold and Rebekah Schmidt limited Arizona to six hits. Schmidt, who entered in the sixth inning, walked two batters, including those who would turn out to be the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth. She was charged with the loss to drop to 1-2.
With Drake leading 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth, Wilson doubled to lead off and Kelsey Rodriguez singled her home to put the Cats on the board. Arizona added another in the fifth on Wilson’s sac fly, which brought in Mandie Perez to get UA within a run.
In the bottom of the sixth, after Schmidt struck out the first batter she faced, Lauren Young and Piñon drew back-to-back walks to put the go-ahead run on. Gronewald re-entered and allowed a grounder to the second baseman Vande Wall, whose error loaded the bases. Pinch hitter then Darcy Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Del Ponte hit a sacrifice fly to give Arizona its first lead. Suitos provided UA with some insurance when she singled to left field to score Perez.
Piñon stood her ground in the seventh, retiring Drake in order to finish the night with seven straight hitters set down overall.
The Hillenbrand Invitational continues Saturday with another six games. Arizona plays at 4 p.m. against Southern Utah and 6 p.m. against Purdue.
