TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 10 Arizona Wildcats defeated the Drake University softball team, 7-0, on Thursday night in the opening game of the 2017 Wildcat Invitational at Hillenbrand Stadium.
 
Drake (4-2) was led at the plate by senior outfielder Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) who finished 2-for-3 while senior outfielder Kaitlyn Finneran (Morrison, Ill.) had the Bulldogs other hit.  
 
Junior pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) took the loss for Drake to move to 2-2 on the season. Newman pitched 4.0 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts. She battled control problems with seven walks.
 
Freshman Aryka Knoche (Little Canada, Minn.) threw 2.0 innings in relief. Knoche allowed one run and allowed zero hits, but walked five and hit one batter.
 
Arizona (6-0) scored one run in each of the first three innings. Later the Wildcats, scored four runs in the fifth inning. Finneran was the only Bulldog to advance to second base in the game. She made it in the fifth inning but she was stranded after junior Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) grounded out to end the frame.
 
Drake continues play at the Wildcat Invitational on Friday with games against Ball State at 2 p.m. and a late-night contest versus North Dakota State at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs and Wildcats will meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m. Drake will then play Boston College at 8 p.m.