TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 14 Arizona softball (19-5) split a doubleheader with New Mexico State (18-13), falling in game one 9-5 before rallying to steal the nightcap 6-3.
The top two hitters in Arizona’s lineup, Hallie Wilson and Chelsea Suitos combined for 10 of the Wildcats 19 hits on the day. Wilson’s day included her first career home run, five RBI and a 4-for-4 performance in the second game, including a two-out, two-RBI, game-tying single in the bottom of the sixth.
The Wildcats will begin Pac-12 play this weekend at fifth-ranked ASU at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon on Sunday. The games can be seen live at foxsportsarizona.com.
New Mexico State hit three homers in the opening game off Kenzie Fowler, who had given up just two homers all season. Fowler (8-1) give up five hits, walked five and struck out nine.
The loss was the largest of the season for Arizona. Its previous four losses had come by one run (three times – Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Texas A&M) and three runs (Georgia).
Jessica Spigner and Wilson homered to give the Wildcats a 5-1 lead, but the Aggies scored eight consecutive runs over the final three innings to win it.
Arizona rallied to win the second game by scoring five unearned runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
Wilson's two-out single tied it up, Brigette Del Ponte followed by driving in a pair and Spigner doubled home Del Ponte for the final run.
Shelby Babcock (9-4) giave up three runs and seven hits to pick up the win.
