Babcock throws no-hitter in UA softball's rout

By foxsports
Published

Shelby Babcock allowed only one runner in her first career solo no-hitter as the Arizona softball team run-ruled College of Charleston 8-0 on Saturday.

Babcock retired the final 13 batters she faced and was a walk shy of a perfect game, instead throwing the 87th no-hitter in school history. The sophomore struck out six of the 16 batters she faced.

Babcock pitched the final inning of a combined no-no with Kenzie Fowler on March 25, 2011, against Cal State Northridge. The last solo no-hitter by a Wildcat was April 24, 2010, when Kenzie Fowler threw a perfect game against Oregon State.

Offensively for the Wildcats, Brigette Del Ponte had three RBI doubles and Shelby Pendley hit a three-run homer. The two are battling for the team lead in RBIs, as Del Ponte now has 22 and Pendley 25. Hallie Wilson and Baillie Kirker also drove in runs in the contest.

The victory ensured UA a series victory in its first three-game series of the season.

Arizona (15-4) had 11 hits on the night and has now outhit College of Charleston (9-6) 23-2 in two run-rule victories.

Starter Hope Klicker took the loss for College of Charleston, dropping her to 4-3 on the season. Klicker pitched four innings, allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out two. She was relieved by Stephanie Saylors, who pitched two-thirds of an inning before giving up a walk-off RBI hit by Wilson.  

UA got on the board in the first when Del Ponte doubled to left-center and Chelsea Suitos scored from second.

Del Ponte did it again in the third, doubling to left-center to score Suitos and give Arizona a 2-0 lead. Jessica Spigner then collected an infield single before Pendley cleared the bases with a three-run home run over the batter’s eye in center field to give the Cats a 5-0 lead after three innings of play.

In the fourth inning, Del Ponte hit her third RBI double of the game, poking one into shallow right field to score Karissa Buchanan from second.

In the fifth, the Cats put their first two aboard via an error and a walk. Pinch-hitter Kirker and Wilson then strung together back-to-back RBI singles to make it 8-0 and finish off the run-rule win.

Arizona and College of Charleston will finish the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.