TUCSON, Ariz. -- No. 9 Arizona split two games at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Saturday evening, falling to ninth-ranked Alabama 6-1 before defeating New Mexico, 15-1 in five innings.
UA (5-4) wraps up the Hillenbrand Invitational vs. Cal Stat Fullerton at 1:30 on Sunday.
Game 1: #7 Alabama 6, #9 Arizona 1
The ninth-ranked Wildcats outhit No. 7 Alabama, 7-6, but fell to the Crimson Tide, 6-1 in UA's first game on Saturday. Arizona's offense couldn't pick up a big hit, while its defense committed four errors on the night.
Taylor McQuillin (1-3) took the loss for Arizona. She struck out eight batters and allowed six runs on six hits with two walks.
Reyna Carranco and
Jessie Harper had two hits each in the game while
Malia Martinez,
Dejah Mulipola and
Carli Campbell had one apiece.
Alabama scored two runs on four hits to open the scoring in top of the second inning. Both teams capitalized on defensive errors in the fourth to plate a run, though the Wildcats had the tying runs in scoring position in the frame with nobody out, but couldn't score.
The Crimson Tide added two thanks to a couple Wildcat errors in the sixth and one on a solo homer in the seventh.
Game 2: #9 Arizona 15, New Mexico 1 (5 innings)
Arizona hit five home runs, including two from
Reyna Carranco, and run-ruled New Mexico, 15-1 in five innings.
UA's offense came alive for season highs in runs (15), hits (14) and home runs (5) in the contest.
Reyna Carranco had a career-most two homers, including a grand slam, to drive in a career-best six runs in the game. She did so in just two at-bats.
Jessie Harper hit her Pac-12-best-tying fifth homer of the season while
Dejah Mulipola (4) and
Tamara Statman (1) also homered in the contest.
Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and Palomino each had three hits in the contest.
Alyssa Denham (2-2) picked up the win in the circle for the Cats. She pitched three scoreless innings and struck out five batters with two hits and one walk.
Vanessa Foreman made her Wildcat debut in the fourth, pitching the final two innings and allowing one unearned run with two strikeouts.
The Cats plated four in the first, three in the second, seven in the third and one in the fourth in the victory.
