Softball team still hurting after loss

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona Summer Wildcat File Photo UA senior pitcher Nancy Evans throws the ball to home plate in a game last season. Evans was selected to the All-Pac-10 Conference team for the fourth time and won the 1998 Honda Softball Award as the nationÍs player of the year.

It took 70 games for the UA softball team to reach the championship of the College World Series-it took one left field blast to send them home.

Nina Lindenberg gave Fresno State all they needed with a sixth-inning home run, ending Arizona's quest for a third straight national title with a 1-0 win May 25 in Oklahoma City.

"We should have won that game," said UA senior pitcher Nancy Evans. "We just had a bad day."

Evans, in her last appearance on the mound for the Wildcats, suffered her first defeat in 18 games.

"It was a lucky swing. She was swinging at the first pitch and she got a good piece of it."

Even with the Bulldogs' "luck," Evans said the Wildcats had no excuses.

"We had been scoring five runs a game, one run should not have been a problem," Evans said.

But Arizona ran into a brick wall, as Fresno State pitcher Amanda Scott limited the Wildcats to three hits while striking out six. Arizona was held scoreless for only the third time this season.

"That given game we just didn't get it done," Head Coach Mike Candrea said. "We played them four times, we won three out of four. They beat us in the right game, that's athletics."

The loss ended Evans' string of 38 scoreless innings and 52 consecutive scoreless innings by Arizona pitchers. She finished the season with a 36-2 record and a career-best 0.98 ERA.

"It happened, it can't change," Evans said. "Now you have to concentrate on the good things. The best team didn't win that day."

Evans won the 1998 Honda Softball Award as the nation's player of the year and was also selected to the All-Pac-10 Conference team for the fourth time.

"Nancy has been a great competitor and very consistent all year," Candrea said. "Every time she steps on the mound you have a chance to win."

Teammate Alison McCutcheon was named conference player of the year, while Candrea earned conference coach of the year honors for the second straight season.

Four Wildcats were also selected to the all-tournament team in Evans, catcher Leah Braatz, third baseman Toni Mascarenas and first baseman Leticia Pineda.

The team set a new NCAA record for overall wins with 67. They reached the championship game of the series for the eighth consecutive year; it was the third time Arizona placed second.

"You have to look at it as a success," Evans said. "We had a great year, it was a blast."

"The end result doesn't always reflect the good things, the process of getting there," Candrea said. "This team handled the season well considering they had a target on their back all year. I'm very proud of these young ladies."

Although it was a successful year, the loss still lingers-and that may be what they need.

"The disappointment is always there because that's our ultimate goal," Candrea said. "Hopefully they'll transfer that frustration to next year."

Evans said Candrea had wise words for his players after the loss.

"He said don't ever forget that feeling so you don't let it happen again."