The No. 3 Arizona softball team swept a three-game home series with No. 14 Oregon State and No. 15 Oregon over the weekend and now holds a two-game lead in the Pacific 10 Conference with nine games remaining.

With the sweep, the Wildcats (34-9, 10-2 Pac-10) improved their record to 23-1 at Hillenbrand Stadium this season, with their only home loss coming from Texas A&M on Feb. 24.

“”I think the fans have a lot to do with (our home success),”” said UA pitcher Taryne Mowatt. “”They’re out here every game supporting us, and I think they’re working almost as hard as we are because they come out here and sit in the hot sun.

“”We’re successful because they support us, and we get fired up and come out here and win.””

Mowatt (26-7) started all three games for the Wildcats, going the distance in every contest. She allowed three earned runs while striking out 32 in 20 innings.

Shortstop Kristie Fox went 6-for-9 at the plate in the series with two home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

Center fielder Caitlin Lowe went 5-for-8 with five runs scored and five stolen bases.

“”Everyone is swinging the bat really well right now, and Taryne is pitching really well, so I like where we’re headed,”” Fox said.

The Wildcats run-ruled Oregon 9-1 in six innings yesterday. Arizona used three-run bursts in the first, second and sixth innings to secure the win.

Fox clubbed her team-leading 12th home run of the season and finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Lowe also went 2-for-3 and scored three runs while stealing two bases. She is now 41-for-41 in steals this season.

Arizona cruised to a 4-1 victory over Oregon (38-11, 3-8) Saturday behind the arm of Mowatt, the legs of Lowe and the bat of catcher Callista Balko.

Mowatt pitched her 28th complete game of the season, striking out 15 Ducks while allowing one run on two hits. She struggled with her location, however, walking eight.

Lowe went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored.

Balko, batting in the cleanup spot for just the second time this season, hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning for Arizona’s winning margin. It was Balko’s ninth home run this season.

Friday’s game saw Fox finish within a single of the cycle and Mowatt shut down the Beaver batters as Arizona defeated Oregon State 3-1.

Fox went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. She drove in Lowe with her first triple of the season in the first inning and then hit a double off the wall in the third.

Fox hit her 11th home run, a solo shot, in the fifth, but she did not get the opportunity to bat again in the contest. She came as close as any player in Arizona history of completing the cycle, as no UA player has ever accomplished the feat.

After giving up two hits, including a solo home run, in the first inning, Mowatt didn’t allow a hit for the rest of the game. She struck out eight and faced just three batters over the minimum.