TUCSON, Ariz. --
Jessie Harper hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie and leading the ninth-ranked Wildcats to a 4-1 victory in the Pac-12 opener over Utah.
Harper's homer was one of six UA hits on the night and served as the big blow in what was a pitchers' duel between aces
Taylor McQuillin and Katie Donovan.
The teams traded runs in the third inning to get the scoring going. Utah scored in the top half on a sacrifice fly while UA responded in the bottom half with a
Reyna Carranco RBI groundout.
In the fifth, Donovan retired the first two Wildcats before a walk to
Alyssa Palomino kicked off a two-out rally.
Reyna Carranco followed with a single up the middle.
Jessie Harper then lifted a three-run homer to left to put the Cats on top, 4-1. It was Harper's team-leading ninth of 2018.
McQuillin was her usual dominant self, allowing just three Utah hits in the complete-game victory. McQuillin struck out three and walked two. She picked up her NCAA-leading 15th win.
Donovan (9-2) allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings. She was relieved by Hailey Hilburn, who gave up a hit but no runs in the sixth inning.
Alyssa Palomino went 2-for-2 at the plate, bringing her average to .500 on the season.
Malia Martinez had two hits as well (2-for-3), while Carranco and Harper had the other two Wildcat hits.
UA improved to 22-3, 1-0 Pac-12 while Utah fell to 14-8, 0-1 Pac-12.
Up next: Arizona and Utah continue the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
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Instagram (@ArizonaSoftball) to keep up with the team.
