Wildcats open Hillenbrand Invitation with 2 wins

By foxsports
Published

Box score 1
Box score 2

TUCSON --


 No. 4 Arizona (16-2) opened the Hillenbrand Invitational on Friday with wins over Utah State and Portland State, both of which came in run-rule-shortened games. The Cats beat the Aggies 11-3 in six innings and Portland State 8-0 in five.

The offense exploded for 23 total hits in just 10 combined innings, with five hits each from Brittany Lastrapes and Lauren Schutzler. Arizona had four triples in the two games. Schutzler notched two of them, both coming against Utah State. Stacie Chambers and Lastrapes each had one.

Wildcat pitchers combined to allow only one earned run over the two games.

UA got an early scare from the Aggies, who scored three runs in the first two innings before the Wildcats rallied and pulled away for an 11-3 win in six innings.

Arizona was led by Schutzler's 4-for-5 performance at the plate and four RBIs. Kristen Arriola was a perfect 3-for-3 for the game and scored three runs.

Shelby Babcock allowed five hits in six innings while giving up three runs, one of which was earned.

Brigette Del Ponte homered to lead off the fourth for Arizona, giving her seven home runs this season.

Schutzler ended the game with her second triple of the afternoon, a bomb to left field that drove in two runs.

In the second game, Kenzie Fowler tossed a two-hitter and got plenty of run support as Arizona defeated Portland State 8-0 in five innings.

Arizona's first three batters went a combined 6 for 8, and Karissa Buchanan added two hits and two RBIs.

Lastrapes, who has six homers on the season, was a home run away from the cycle, finishing 3 for 3 with a single, a double and a triple.

The Cats got three runs in the first and three more in the second to take a 6-0 lead, and after three walks in the fifth loaded the bases, Buchanan doubled to drive in two and end the game.