Blue Raiders Lead Early; Fall to Wildcats 7-3

TUSCSON, Ariz. - Middle Tennessee softball (2-7) had a 3-1 lead over 4th ranked Arizona (8-2) entering the sixth inning but a six-run offensive explosion by Arizona doomed the Blue Raiders as they fell 7-3 in the second day of action of the Worth Wildcat Tournament.

Three consecutive singles in the sixth inning loaded the bases for the Wildcats. Then, freshman hurler Lindsey Vander Lugt did something she had only done three times in her last eight appearances - she walked a batter. This walk, however, was costly as it sent Callisto Balko to first base and Jenae Leles home. A fielder's choice would score the Wildcat's second run of the inning to tie the game and Taryne Mowatt's two RBI single gave Arizona the lead. Arizona added two more runs before the inning ended.

A pair of singles and a stolen base had two Arizona Wildcats on first and second with no outs to start the game. Two fielder's choice plays put runners on second and third, and the Wildcats scored their first run when Chelsie Mesa hit an RBI single to score Kristie Fox. After Mesa stole second, Arizona then had runners on second and third yet again but Laine Roth flew out to left field to end the inning.

Middle Tennessee tied the game in the second inning with one swing of the bat. Whitney Darlington hit her first homerun as a Blue Raider to tie the game at one.

It was Justine Cerda's turn to hit the long ball in the bottom of the third inning. The sophomore from Grants Pass, Oregon gave the Blue Raiders the lead, 2-1, with her first homerun of the year.

Middle Tennessee added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman Caitlin McLure hit a lead off single and thanks to two wild pitches by Wildcat pitcher Sarah Akamine she motored to third. Cerda perfected a bunt single that scored McLure for her second RBI of the game.

Vander Lugt takes the loss and falls to 1-4 on the season. Cerda led the club with two hits, two RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Martha Davis and McLure also had two hits.

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