The No. 5 Arizona softball team wrapped up the opening weekend of Pacific 10 Conference play with an 11-2 victory over No. 14 UCLA yesterday afternoon.
The win, Arizona’s largest over the Bruins since 1998, ended an eight-game losing streak dating back to 2004 and helped the squad win two out of a three on a road trip that included a victory at Washington.
“”Coming back against a good team like UCLA after they beat you up and shut you out is a good testament to our team,”” center fielder Caitlin Lowe said.
Just a day after the Wildcats (26-8, 2-1) lost to the Bruins 2-0, it looked like they were headed to a similar result when they were held scoreless through four innings and trailed 2-0 heading into the fifth.
But in that inning Arizona’s offense came alive, as the Wildcats put five runs on the board after being shut out by UCLA for the previous 11 innings.
Shortstop Kristie Fox hit her team-leading 10th home run of the season to give the Wildcats the lead, and Arizona plated three more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the win.
“”The best thing is that we came back strong after losing to them (Saturday),”” Fox said. “”We didn’t give up, and we came back and made a statement.””
Every Wildcat hit safely in the contest, as Arizona amassed a total of 14 hits. Right fielder Adrienne Acton was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and seniors Chelsie Mesa and Fox each drove in three runs.
The offensive explosion was in stark contrast to Saturday’s loss, in which the Wildcats managed only two hits off UCLA pitcher Anjelica Selden.
“”It was good to come back because it was a little shock to our ego that they beat us and we weren’t able to score any runs, so it was great that we came out and scored 11 runs,”” Lowe said.
Making her third start in as many days, UA ace Taryne Mowatt held UCLA’s dangerous offense in check, allowing three hits and two runs in a complete-game effort.
The Bruins handed Arizona its first conference loss of the year Saturday thanks to a two-run home run by second baseman Lisa Dodd in the sixth inning.
The Wildcats’ offense couldn’t get anything going against Selden, and Mowatt took the loss despite holding the Bruin offense to two runs on three hits.
Arizona kicked off its Pac-10 road trip Friday in Seattle, where they cruised to an easy 6-0 victory at No. 16 Washington behind the arm of Mowatt and the bat of Fox.
Mowatt allowed four hits in a complete-game shutout, and Fox went 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Winning two of three on what UA head coach Mike Candrea called the “”most difficult road trip of the season”” has the Wildcats in good position after the opening weekend of Pac-10 play.
“”Of course you want to win all three, but it was the opening weekend, and I think everyone got their jitters out,”” Fox said. “”The Pac-10 is like that, every game is a battle, and they are going to be close games, so we just need to make sure that we come out and play hard against every single team.””
