Citizen Staff Writer
UA SOFTBALL
Citizen Staff Report
The University of Arizona softball team almost used up all its offense in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
After beating the University of Texas-El Paso 20-1 in five innings in the first game at Hillenbrand Stadium, UA needed a pair of home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a come-from-behind 5-2 win in the nightcap.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, UA (16-4) got a two-run home run from Brittany Lastrapes, her fifth of the season, over the center-field wall to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Three batters later, Stacie Chambers hit her 10th of the year, also a two-run shot, to give the Cats a 5-2 lead.
Sarah Akamine, who picked up wins in both games, improved to 8-2, throwing three scoreless innings in relief of starter Jennifer Martinez.
The first game was a homer-fest that didn’t need any late-game drama.
The 20 runs were the most for UA since a 21-17 win over Washington in the regular season finale in 2003.
Kristen Arriola belted her second and third home runs of the season and drove in six runs; Lini Koria hit her fifth homer of the season and had six RBIs; Lastrapes went 1 for 1 with a homer and three RBIs; and freshman Alicia Banks, from Sierra Vista Buena High School, smacked her first college home run.
UA hosts the Hillenbrand Invitational Friday through Sunday.
The Wildcats play Minnesota twice on Friday with the first pitch of Game 1 at 4 p.m.
• Box scores, 5C