HOUSTON, Texas – No. 13 Arizona (41-10, 15-7 Big 12) run-ruled Houston in the first game of the series, 10-1, in five innings on Friday.  
 
The Wildcats hit three home runs to secure the win over the Cougars, led by Dakota Kennedy's grand slam in the fifth inning. Arizona scored 10 runs on 10 hits and three Cats – Kennedy, Kaiah Altmeyer, and Tayler Biehl – all had two hits. Kennedy drove in five runs to lead the offense.  
 
Houston struck first with a solo home run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats took the lead after scoring two runs in the top of the third. Altmeyer drove in the first run with an RBI single. With Altmeyer on first and Regan Shockey on third, Altmeyer stole second and Shockey stole home on the throw to give Arizona the 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth, Arizona plated two runs to take a 4-1 lead. Stoddard hit a leadoff home run – her 12th homer of the season – to score the first run of the inning. Kennedy drove in the Cats' fourth run of the game with an RBI groundout.
 
The Cats plated six more runs in the fifth to extend their lead over the Cougars. Sydney Stewart blasted a two-run home run – her 16th of the season – to give Arizona a 6-1 lead. Dakota Kennedy drove in the other four with a grand slam to round out the inning.
 
In the circle, Stoddard picked up the win to improve to 11-0. She pitched the first 4.2 innings and allowed just one run on six hits. Saya Swain entered in the bottom of the fifth and retired the two batters she faced to close the game.

Up Next
The Wildcats will take on the Cougars in the second game of the series on Saturday, May 3 at 12 p.m. MST.