(Photo Courtesy of Arizona Athletics)
TUCSON – For the second consecutive game, Arizona pitchers allowed just a single UTEP hit in Arizona’s 14-1, five-inning victory to sweep the two-game series.
To complement the pitching staff, the UA offense hit three homers and scored 14 runs, marking the third consecutive game, and sixth game overall, that the Wildcats have scored double-digit runs.
All three home runs came engulfed in its own story line. Katiyana Mauga’s second-inning grand slam marked the second consecutive game in which Mauga hit a grand slam. It was Mauga’s fourth homer of the season and Arizona’s fourth grand slam of the year. UA had two all of last season. Kellie Fox’s first-inning three-run homer gave her the solo lead in the Pac-12 with seven home runs. Cynthia Pelayo, who entered the game 2-for-2 on the year, homered over the batter’s eye to keep her 1.000 batting average intact.
Kenzie Fowler (2-0) pitched the first three innings and allowed a single run on one hit. The senior walked four and struck out two in the start. Nancy Bowling pitched the final two innings and did not allow a hit. Bowling walked two and struck out one in the outing.
The Wildcats scored 14 runs on 14 hits in the contest. Hallie Wilson, Fox and Mo Mercado had two hits apiece.
Mauga’s five RBI were a season high while Fox’s four gave her 26 for the season.
For the second consecutive game, Arizona put a six-spot up in first inning. Five of the six runs scored before UTEP had recorded a single out. Hallie Wilson and Chelsea Suitos singled to start the frame before Kellie Fox launched her league-leading seventh homer of the season. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases before Mo Mercado doubled in a pair of runs to chase UTEP starter Taylor Grohmann. Katiyana Mauga’s sacrifice fly made the score 6-0 after one inning.
UTEP got a run back in the top of the second after a trio of walks loaded the bases with two out. Miraya Montiel delivered a single to right to put the Miners on the board.
Fox delivered RBI number four on the day when her single through the right side in the second scored Suitos to make the score 7-1 Arizona. Lauren Young and Mo Mercado followed with singles to load the bases and Mauga, for the second consecutive game, hit a grand slam to make it 11-1 Arizona.
In the third, Cynthia Pelayo hit her first career homer to dead center field, a two-run homer to put Arizona ahead 13-1.
UA added a run in the fourth inning when Siera Phillips notched her first-career hit, a double to right-center and was batted in by Courtney Rodriguez’s team-leading fifth double of the year.
