KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore UA catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest slides into home last weekend against Cal State Fullerton in Tempe at the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Arizona opens play at the Arizona Pepsi Classic starting today at 3 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium.

What a difference a week makes.

After starting the season right where it left off, the defending national champion softball team struggled mightily in Phoenix last weekend and suffered its first two losses of the season - both to unranked opponents.

After an up-and-down six games at the Fiesta Bowl tournament, the Wildcats will look to reassert themselves this weekend when they hold the Arizona Pepsi Classic.

Five teams arrive in Tucson for the round-robin tournament beginning today when UA battles Louisville (0-4) and No. 14 Notre Dame (0-0).

On Saturday, the Wildcats will play host to No. 25 South Florida (3-6-1) and Auburn (8-0), while they finish play against New Mexico State (4-9) on Sunday.

While UA's bats fell silent during their two losses last weekend, head coach Mike Candrea said his team's greatest improvements must occur in the field.

"The theme right now is improvement, and we need to get better defensively," said Candrea of his team, which has committed nine errors in as many games.

Three of its most costly errors of the early season came in one inning during a 7-1 loss to unranked Mississippi State. The setback snapped the Wildcats winning streak at 32 games.

Equally frustrating last week was Arizona's inability to deliver clutch hits or produce runs.

After dominating their first three games of the Fiesta Bowl tournament, the Wildcats were only able to push across two runs during their final three games.

"We have a lot of young kids," said Candrea of his seven freshmen and three sophomores. "Hopefully, those were some growing pains we went through (last weekend)."

As the Wildcats attempt to get back on track this weekend, returning to the very friendly confines of Hillenbrand Stadium will only help. UA has won 47 consecutive games at home, with its last loss coming nearly two years ago in eight innings.

One Wildcat who will look to return to her form from a year ago is sophomore pitcher Jenny Gladding. She suffered both losses in Phoenix, matching her total from her freshman year in which she also piled up 14 victories.

While Gladding received little support from her teammates at the plate or in the field a week ago, Candrea said her biggest challenge now may be largely mental.

"Believing in herself is the most important thing for Jenny right now," Candrea said.

On paper, the Wildcats' toughest challenges this weekend will come against No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 25 South Florida.

But, as they learned last week with two losses against unranked opponents, simply wearing Arizona across their chest will never guarantee victory.

"I don't think we underestimated anyone," junior shortstop Lovie Jung said. "But I don't think we came to play every game.

"(This weekend) I think we need to just focus on the basics and fundamentals. Once you start playing in games, you get away from that a lot."

Candrea hopes that is something his squad learned from its experience last week.

"The most important thing (when we play) is the process we go through," Candrea said. "I don't mind getting beat, but I do mind when we beat ourselves."