The Arizona softball team started its season on the right note Thursday with an 8-1 win over McNeese State to open the Kajikawa Classic.
Newcomers Jessica Spigner and Chelsea Goodacre homered in their first games in an Arizona uniform, and Brigette Del Ponte added a homer of her own as she drove in four runs to lead Arizona. The three each had two hits in the game.
Shelby Babcock got the nod for UA in the circle; the sophomore went the distance and danced out of trouble all night, allowing just one run on six hits.
An area of concern for the Cats entering the season, Arizona’s defense was superb, as Del Ponte, Hallie Wilson and Kristen Arriola all made diving plays with the leather.
Spigner, in her first career at-bat, homered to left field to give Arizona a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The Cats added a run in the third when Brigette Del Ponte recorded a ground-rule double to score Karissa Buchanan.
McNeese State got on the board when Alanna DiVittorio homered to lead off the fourth. A subsequent single and double put two runners in scoring position with no one out, but Babcock would get the next three outs to limit the damage.
UA put three runs on the board in its turn in the fourth. Goodacre hit a two-run homer to right and Chelsea Suitos recorded an RBI groundout to give Arizona a 5-1 lead after four.
Babcock got herself in another jam in the fifth. The Cowgirls loaded the bases with only one out, but Babcock would get the next two out to protect Arizona’s 5-1 lead.
UA’s offense provided Babcock with some insurance in the sixth, as Del Ponte hit a three-run bomb to give Arizona an 8-1 lead.
