Tucson, Ariz.. – The 17th- ranked Arizona State softball team fell, 8-0, to the No. 11 Arizona Wildcats at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium Friday night in the first of three games between the two rivals in Tucson.
Following a slow offensive start by both teams in the first, Arizona brought in the first runs of the game with a two-run blast to left.
Following a three-up three-down top of the third, the Wildcat offense got back to work in the home-half, connecting on a three-run homer and a two-run blast to make it a 7-0 Arizona lead.
With the Sun Devils looking to punch back, the ASU offense showed signs of life in the top of the fourth, working a one-out single to left, but the comeback would stall from there.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Devil worked a pair of runners on in the fifth, but the Wildcat offense held to keep ASU off the board.
The game would end in the home-half with U of A lifting a sacrifice fly to deep center that brought in the winning run, and completed the 8-0 run-rule victory for the home team.
Game two of the series is set for a 5 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Fans can follow the actin from the game by watching Pac-12 Arizona, or by following @ASUSoftball on twitter.
