Arizona scored five runs in the top of the first inning and was never seriously threatened in an 8-3 win at Houston on Sunday, earning a sweep of the three-game series. Miranda Stoddard had a dominant performance hitting and pitching to lead Arizona to the win.
Stoddard had two hits in three at-bats with two runs scored and five runs batted in that included a grand slam. In the circle, Stoddard pitched four innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts after relieving Saya Swain, who gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Kaiah Altmeyer gave Arizona a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a single that scored Regan Shockey. Stoddard hit the grand slam after walks to Sydney Stewart and Devyn Netz loaded the bases. Houston scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Bethany Aguilar had an RBI single and Houston scored its second run on a wild pitch…