By
Brett Erickson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona faces tough non-conference match-ups in Pheonix
In the past 14 College World Series softball tournaments, either Arizona, UCLA, or Washington has advanced to the championship game, and two of the three powerhouses have squared off against each other in seven of those games.
While the Pacific 10 Conference still has a firm hold on the rest of nation - three teams ranked in the top four, including the No. 3 Wildcats - other programs have made impressive strides. Programs like Fresno State (1998 NCAA Champion) and Oklahoma (2000 champions) now challenge Pac-10 teams each season.
This newfound parity across the country has added an emphasis on playing quality non-conference teams, and Arizona will get its first taste of what should be a competitive out-of-conference schedule this weekend.
The Wildcats play six teams - including No. 8 Louisiana State, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 18 South Carolina and No. 24 Texas - this weekend at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix. Arizona opens play today in a doubleheader against unranked Georgia and Texas at the Cave Creek Sports Complex.
Fourth-ranked Washington and No. 6 Arizona State - the tournament's host - are also in the 17-team field, but will not play Arizona until Pac-10 games begin.
"It's a very good field for us," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "I think what we need is to play some tough competition and we're going to get our hands full this weekend, so it will be a good test for us."
Candrea said UA senior Becky Lemke (2-0), junior Jennie Finch (1-0) and freshman Jenny Gladding will each see action in the circle this weekend. The three pitchers did not allow a run in the Wildcats' four wins last weekend at the Louisville Tournament in Tampa, Fla.
Senior shortstop Allison Andrade said higher-profile games like this weekend's can help Arizona become a better team as the season progresses.
"It will teach us how to play intense in crucial situations because the teams are going to have a lot of power and speed, and that's going to make us a better team," she said.
