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UA shocked by sub .500 Roadrunners

After a nine-day break between games, the Arizona softball team couldn't shake off the rust as they were upset by New Mexico State in the first game of last night's doubleheader at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

The Roadrunners (17-19) capitalized on a key error by UA sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jennie Finch and a timely sixth inning homer run by NMSU junior catcher Adrian Nobles to clinch the 2-1 victory.

"It was just not the Arizona team that I am used to seeing, and I am not going to dwell on it, but we did not do anything very well," Arizona head coach Mike Candrea said. "Offensively, we were absolutely on spring break."

The Wildcats (36-3) appeared sluggish both defensively and offensively in the first game as they were only able to muster five hits off NMSU sophomore pitcher Amber Mosher, who struck out two UA batters while walking only one.

The win gave Mosher a 9-10 record for the season.

Junior left fielder Lauren Bauer drove in the lone Arizona run with a RBI double in the sixth.

Bauer was 2 for 6 at the plate with two RBI in the series.

Junior center fielder Nicole Giordano also had a strong night at the plate going 4 for 7 with one run scored.

"I felt good the first game, second game I felt really good, but nothing was falling in," Giordano said. "It is frustrating for me because I felt like we had so many opportunities to break it open, and we didn't take advantage of that."

The Wildcats had many opportunities throughout the first game to put runs on the board but failed to get key hits when they needed them most.

Down by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Finch hit a towering fly ball that looked to be a homer, but Roadrunner junior left fielder Lizette Olivares reached over the outfield wall catching the would be game-tying run and securing the NMSU victory.

"Jennie hit it over the fence, but that girl caught it, and that would have been our big break," junior pitcher Becky Lemke said. "That pitcher (Mosher) had us for a while, and I don't know, it just sucks."

With minimal support from the offense, Lemke pitched an admirable game though she had trouble with her control early on.

Lemke gave up only one earned run on three Roadrunner hits while striking out 10 batters.

"I think Becky struggled a little bit, she wasn't hitting her spots," Candrea said.

After the disappointing first game, an inspirational talk from Candrea fired the Wildcat team up, and they bounced back, playing once again like the second ranked team in the country as they cruised to a 7-1 victory.

"I think the second game, after coach talked to us, I think it really pumped us up," Giordano said.

The offense was ignited by junior catcher Lindsey Collins' monster two-run homer that cleared the left field bleachers.

Collins was 2 for 3 in the game after going hitless in the first game.

Senior right fielder Chrissy Gil also hit a three-run home run an inning later to give the Wildcats a rather comfortable 5-0 lead.

A five run lead would be more than enough for Finch even though she was battling an upset stomach during the game.

"Jennie did really great tonight especially because she wasn't feeling good either, so she pretty much stepped up more than the call of duty," junior shortstop Allison Andrade said. "Pitching has been a main factor all year."

Finch struck out 11 NMSU batters while giving up only four hits and no earned runs. She also went 2 for 3 from the plate and scored a run in the sixth inning.

"We really wanted to come out and get in sync and things, and it really proved to us that we just have to work harder," Andrade said. "From here on out, it is the most important part of the season, and we can't step back."