TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 7 Arizona lost the first game of the series to UCF, 9-3, on Friday night at Hillenbrand Stadium.  
 
The Wildcats tallied four hits, led by Devyn Netz who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run. Kaiah Altmeyer also homered in the game.
 
UCF scored two runs in the first to open the game on a fielding error. The Knights added one more in the second on a solo home run to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Arizona plated its first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on Netz's solo home run – her sixth of the season.
 
In the fourth, UCF hit another solo homer to extend their lead to 4-1.
 
The Wildcats scored two runs in the sixth to cut into the Knights' lead and bring the game to 4-3. Altmeyer led off the inning with a solo home run – her third homer of the season. Dakota Kennedy took advantage of an error by UCF to score the second run of the inning and bring the Cats within one run.
 
UCF plated five runs in the top of the seventh. A two-run home run, a two-RBI double, and a fielding error allowed the Knights to take a 9-3 lead heading into the final inning. UCF retired Arizona in order in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.  
 
Netz picked up the loss in the circle to fall to 8-2. She pitched four innings and gave up the first three runs but struck out four Knights. Saya Swain relieved Netz in the fifth and allowed two runs on one hit through 2.2 innings. Aissa Silva entered in the middle of the seventh inning and gave up three runs.

Up next
The Wildcats will face the Knights in game two of the series on Saturday, March 8 at 4 p.m. MST at Hillenbrand Stadium.