No. 2 Wildcats go 1-2 on toughest road trip of season
The second-ranked UA softball team suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 1 UCLA in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon, dropping Arizona's weekend record to 1-2.
UCLA (40-3, 3-3) rode the eight-strikeout, four-hit pitching performance of Keira Goerl to keep the Wildcats (39-4 overall, 3-2 in Pac-10) off the bases most of the day.
Arizona freshman Jenny Gladding (12-2) took the loss for the Wildcats.
The Bruins scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on two unearned runs in the fifth to put the game away.
The loss prevented Arizona from sweeping the two-game series with UCLA. The Wildcats won Saturday's tilt, 4-0. Junior Jennie Finch, who no-hit Oregon State last Sunday, upped her team-best record to 14-0 with a commanding performance. She yielded just two hits while striking out 11 batters.
Finch has allowed three runs in her last five outings, all of which have been complete games.
All of Arizona's runs came in the top of the fourth inning.
Freshman Leneah Manuma led off the inning with a walk. After Finch followed with a single to center field, UA head coach Mike Candrea inserted freshman Kim Balkan to pinch-run for Manuma at second.
Balkan scored after senior Lindsey Collins' sacrifice bunt was thrown into right field.
Freshman Mackenzie Vandergeest followed with an opposite-field, three-run home run, which gave Finch all the run support she needed.
In Friday's game at No. 14 Washington (25-14, 3-3), UW freshman Tia Bollinger limited Arizona to four hits in a 1-0 shutout in Seattle. Senior Becky Lemke (13-2) took the loss for the Wildcats.
Arizona had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning, but senior Toni Mascarenas bounced out with the bases loaded. The game marked the first time this season Arizona has been shut out.
The Wildcats return to action Friday and Saturday against the Pac-10's top team, Arizona State. The No. 9 Sun Devils (30-9, 5-1) swept their two games against the Huskies this weekend and also beat UCLA Friday.
