TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 7 Arizona took down Utah on Friday afternoon at Hillenbrand Stadium, 8-0, in five innings to open the series. The Wildcats improved to 24-4 (2-2 Big 12) with their third-straight run-rule victory.
 
Arizona blasted four home runs to mercy rule the Utes and Miranda Stoddard led the team with three RBI.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Cats scored three runs to get on the board in the second. Stoddard drove in the first run with a double down the left field line. Jenna Sniffen hit her fourth home run of the season – a two-run shot to left center – to drive in two more runs for Arizona.
 
In the third, Arizona plated four runs to take a 7-0 lead over Utah. Devyn Netz and Stoddard hit a pair of two-run home runs to extend Arizona's lead.
 
Kaiah Altmeyer hit a solo homer in the fourth – her fourth of the season – to give the Cats an 8-0 lead over the Utes.
 
In the circle, Devyn Netz earned the win to improve to 9-3 on the season. She allowed three hits but held Utah scoreless through 4.0 innings. Aissa Silva pitched the fifth inning in relief and did not allow a hit or run to score.   

Up next
The Wildcats will continue the series with the Utes on Saturday, March 15 at 4 p.m. MST at Hillenbrand Stadium.