Wildcats upend Sun Devils in 10 innings in softball finale

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona salvaged the final game of a three-game Pac-12 softball series with Arizona State on Sunday night, defeating the Sun Devils 6-5 in 10 innings before a crowd of 2,264 at Farrington Stadium.

The game featured five lead changes and three ties over the course of three and a half hours.

Arizona scored the game winner in the 10th inning when Kellie Fox led off with a single, advanced to second on a field error, to third on a single by Katiyana Mauga and scored when Mo Mercado grounded to shortstop and ASU was unable to turn a double play.

Amber Freeman and Alix Johnson each had home runs for the Sun Devils (32-6, 6-3 Pac-12), and Dallas Escobedo (14-5) struck out 14 Wildcats while throwing 183 pitches.

Chelsea Goodacre and Mercado homered for the Wildcats (29-8, 4-5 Pac-12), who sent the game into extra innings with a two-out rally in the seventh.

Both teams scored twice in the eighth on two-run homers -- Mercado for the Wildcats and Johnson for the Sun Devils.

Estela Pinon (10-5) was the winning pitcher for Arizona, throwing 203 pitches while working around 11 walks and eight hits.