By
Brett Erickson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona pitchers pitch 4 shutouts
If this weekend's games in Tampa, Fla., were any indication, the Arizona softball team could be on its way to adding a new chapter to the storied Wildcats' program.
Behind four dominant pitching performances, Arizona (4-0) outscored its opponents 24-0 and opened the season by claiming the Louisville Tournament title.
The Wildcats defeated South Florida 5-0 yesterday afternoon to wrap up play in the round-robin tournament.
Senior Becky Lemke (2-0) earned the win against the Bulls, but it was her performance Friday that set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Lemke threw a no-hitter and struck out 13 batters in the season-opener against Florida Atlantic.
"They're cool, whatever," Lemke said of her no-hitter. "My mom likes them more than I do."
In Arizona's second game Friday against Tennessee, junior Jennie Finch continued the Wildcats' dominance in the circle by tossing a one-hit shutout.
Not to be outdone by the upperclassmen, freshman Jenny Gladding also had a strong outing in Saturday's game against Northwestern. Gladding, playing in her home state, yielded just one hit while striking out 13 in the rain-delayed game against Northwestern.
"She was nervous," assistant coach Nancy Evans said of Gladding's first collegiate start. "That morning, she really didn't say much."
Evans said Arizona's pitchers have a goal of not allowing their competition any runs, so the domination displayed this weekend did not come as a surprise, even if it was against unranked teams.
"That was a great way to start the season," she said.
Lemke agreed, adding that it was nice to get some games in after having most of their fall exhibition schedule rained out.
"I would have been down if we had give up a run," Lemke said. "It was nice to finally get a game in."
Lemke said Arizona's pitchers benefit from knowing they have a stellar defense behind them.
"Our defense is just incredible," she said.
Standing out on the offensive end for the Wildcats were redshirt freshman Leneah Manuma as well as seniors Toni Mascarenas and Lindsey Collins. Manuma hit home runs in both games Friday, while Mascarenas added two in Friday's tilt against Tennessee.
Collins notched homers against both Florida Atlantic and South Florida.
"This is probably our best lineup we've had in the last three years," Lemke said. "I think our whole lineup, (numbers) one through nine, they're going to take their hacks."
Arizona returns to action this weekend at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix. The Wildcats open their home schedule Feb. 16 against No. 18 South Carolina.
