TUCSON, Ariz. – Nineteenth-ranked Arizona softball (21-8) used a dramatic comeback to down San Diego State 8-6 in eight innings to sweep a two-game series.
The Cats entered the seventh trailing by five runs and in danger of dropping their fifth game in seven tries. Shelby Pendley pounded a home run to begin the inning. After a pair of singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly, right fielder Alex Lavine stepped in with two outs. Arizona was down to its final strike, trailing 6-3, when Lavine, who came to the plate with onehit and one RBI on the season and three home runs in her career, tied the game with a homer to left field.
Shelby Babcock pitched a spotless eighth inning in relief of Kenzie Fowler. Jessica Spigner led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, and Pendley took a full-count offering from San Diego State pitcher Bailey Micetich over the batter’s eye in center field to win the game.
It was Arizona’s first walk-off win of the season.
Babcock improved her record to 11-5. Fowler pitched the first seven innings and allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out six.
Pendley’s two-homer day was her second of the season, giving the freshman 11 for the seasons. Hallie Wilson and Lini Koria also had two hits for the Wildcats.
Arizona resumes Pac-12 on Friday, hosting Stanford in the first of a three-game series.
