TAMPA, Fla. -- No. 7 Arizona closed the USF Opening Weekend Invitational with a 4-1 loss to NC State on Sunday.

The Wildcats (3-2) left eight runners on, including six in scoring position, in the defeat. UA had seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, but couldn't pick up the big hit it needed despite out-hitting NC State, 7-5 in the game.

Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza led off the game with her fourth home run of the weekend, but it would be the only run the Cats scored in the game. NC State (3-1) hit solo homers in the second and fourth and plated two runs of insurance in the sixth.

Alyssa Denham (1-1) took the loss for the Cats despite allowing just two hits, both homers, and striking out seven of the 16 batters she faced over 4.0 innings. Tayor McQuillin surrendered two runs on three hits with four strikeouts in two innings of relief.

After the Palomino-Cardoza home run in the first, UA used three hits to load the bases with one out, but a strikeout and a popup ended the Wildcat opportunity.

Arizona loaded the bases with one out once again in the second, but UA grounded into a double play to once again waste the chance.

NC State then tied the game with a solo homer in the second and took the lead with another in the fourth. 

In the fifth and sixth, the Cats put the leadoff runner in pursuit of tying the game, but couldn't score.

NC State insured the lead with two runs in the sixth, and then closed out a 4-1 win.

UP NEXT
Arizona hosts the Hillenbrand Invitational next week, Feb. 14-17, in the first games at the renovated Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. UA opens the event with the stadium's Grand Re-Opening on Thursday vs. New Mexico at 6 p.m. MST.

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