Teams from around the nation flock to Hillenbrand Invitational

Brian D. Rothschild Arizona Daily Wildcat UA first baseman Leah O'Brien slides into home at a game earlier this season. The Wildcats will face six teams at the Hillenbrand Invitational over the next three days.

The Hillenbrand Invitational features eight teams playing 21 games over three days. The first two days' games will be played at Lincoln Park located on Pantano Road, south of Golf Links Rd.

Arizona head coach Mike Candrea said he knows very little about the visiting teams.

"I do know that they are good teams coming in," Candrea said.

DePaul has yet to play a game this season, but is coming off a 44-17 season in 1996 and return two of their best players in seniors Nicole Terpstra and Amy Ernst. Terpstra compiled a record of 23-6 last season with an ERA of 1.41. Ernst averaged almost a n RBI per game. Last season the Wildcats beat DePaul 6-5 at the PONY/Louisville Tournament.

Florida is a new program, with a roster consisting of seven freshman, one sophomore and three juniors. LSU (7-0) is also a new program dominated by underclassmen, including 15 freshmen.

Colorado State and Kent State are both teams with a few seasons under their belts. Last season Kent State was 26-21, but has not played this season. Colorado State is 7-1 this season.

The first USA Today/NSCA polls of the year came out this week, and the Wildcats received all 25 first place votes. The Wildcats are 15-0 this season with wins over ranked teams such as: Washington, Baylor, Southwest Louisiana, Nebraska and UNLV.

Candrea said that he doesn't believe the Wildcats have an advantage though.

"The only advantage you have is in the mental state," Candrea said. "The minute you take someone lightly they can bite you in the butt."

The UA pitching has been near perfect over the past 15 games. Carrie Dolan and Nancy Evans have a combined ERA of 1.09 with 74 strikeouts.

Run production has been a key factor in Arizona's winning record.

They have scored 140 runs, 21 of which have come from home runs. Leah Braatz-Cochrane leads the team with 22 RBI and Lety Pineda leads the team in home runs with eight.

The Wildcats play Kent State this afternoon at 1 and follow with DePaul at 3 at Lincoln Park.

Tomorrow they play Kansas at 1 p.m. and Colorado State at 3 also at Lincoln Park.

Sunday, they will return to Hillenbrand Stadium to play Lousiana State at 1 p.m. and Florida at 3.