Wildcat softball hosted the Arizona Fall Invitational over the weekend and defeated every college it played against.
Junior catcher Chelsea Goodacre shone in the final game of the tournament, when the Wildcats defeated Pima Community College 10-3.
“It was a bonus that I did pretty well, but my main focus is how my pitchers are doing and the rest of our team,” Goodacre said.
Goodacre hit a total of eight home runs in the fall invitational.
“When I hit well, nothing is going through my head, and when I don’t hit well, that’s when I’m talking about everything,” Goodacre said, “so this weekend I was in the box thinking about nothing.”
The Pima Aztecs were aggressive in the last inning, when they managed to score their last two runs of the game.
“Pima battled, and that’s a good sign they’re a good JC team,” said head coach Mike Candrea. “I like some of the things that we did, other than the last inning, not shutting things down.”
The UA swept Central Arizona and Arizona Western on day two of the Arizona Fall Invitational.
The Wildcats defeated Central Arizona 11-3 and run-ruled Arizona Western 15-0.
Goodacare went seven for seven with 11 RBI’s, hitting three far home runs during the two games.
Senior Kenzie Fowler made her debut during the second game Saturday night after being off the mound since May of 2012, allowing only one run and six strikeouts in four innings.
Arizona had 16 hits during that game. Sophomores Lauren Young and Courtney Rodriguez, freshman Katiyana Mauga and Goodacre all combined for the main hits of the night.
It only took Arizona five innings to defeat Phoenix College 11-0 during the first game played in the tournament Friday night.
The Wildcats had 26 at-bats with 12 hits total.
Junior Hallie Wilson and freshman Mo Mercado stepped up to the plate and delivered some hits to help the Wildcats’ offense.
For the defense, senior pitchers Estela Piñon and Shelby Babcock combined on the mound for the shutout.
After a successful tournament, the Wildcats will go back to practice and prepare for the spring season’s higher competition.
“We have lots of work to do — that’s what this fall is all about, trying to find out where you’re at,” Candrea said.
—Follow Rose Valenzuela @RoseAlyVal
