KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Head coach Mike Candrea congratulates freshman third baseman Jackie Coburn after her first-inning grand slam yesterday afternoon at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Wildcats beat New Mexico State 8-0 for their fifth consecutive victory at the Pepsi Arizona Softball Classic.

There's no place like home.

Especially for a young Arizona softball team coming off losses in two of its last three games.

The top-ranked Wildcats dominated their visitors with four consecutive shutouts to finish a perfect 5-0 weekend in the Pepsi Arizona Softball Classic.

The victory was Arizona's 51st consecutive at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium, and All-American senior pitcher Jennie Finch extended her personal winning streak to 48 - just two shy of the NCAA all-time record.

The tournament culminated with Finch's sixth career no-hitter - and first this season - Sunday against New Mexico State.

After two shutouts in her first two starts of the tournament, Finch breezed through the Aggies' lineup yesterday, striking out 10 in the 8-0 victory.

Freshman third baseman Jackie Coburn put the Wildcats ahead for good with a first-inning grand slam, and sophomore first baseman Leneah Manuma added three RBIs, including a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to engage the eight-run rule.

The Wildcats made several smooth defensive plays to keep Finch's no-hitter intact, highlighted by a backhanded stab of a one-hopper by junior second baseman Lisha Ribellia with one out in the fifth.

UA's performance yesterday helped mark a five-game stretch in which the home team failed to commit an error.

After defensive miscues led to a pair of defeats a week ago, head coach Mike Candrea liked the strides his Wildcats made in the field this weekend.

"Defensively we played very well," Candrea said. "Last week, we were very timid and lazy defensively, and I thought the preparation to play defense was much better (this weekend)."

Saturday's action saw the Wildcats' toughest test of the weekend as Finch locked up with Auburn's Jennifer Lofton in a pitching duel.

Through five innings both starters allowed only a single, and Auburn appeared on the verge of breaking through when they loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth.

With her 47-game winning streak on the line, Finch calmly induced the next two batters to pop out and ground out. With a handful of the Hillenbrand faithful on its feet, Finch struck out the final Auburn batter in the sixth - something she accomplished in all but one inning.

After freshman left fielder Courtney Fossatti singled to give the Wildcats a one-run lead in the bottom half of the inning, Manuma put the game out of reach with one powerful swing of her bat.

The Hawaiian native drilled a three-run bomb into the pool area of the Ina E. Gittings building beyond the center field fence, and Finch pitched a perfect seventh, finishing the night with 11 strikeouts in the 4-0 victory.

Things were a little more relaxed for the Wildcats in their first game on Saturday.

Pitching against many of her summer ball teammates, sophomore Florida native Jenny Gladding stole the show on the mound and at the plate against South Florida.

Gladding delivered a first-inning grand slam and added a two-run homer in the fourth to provide herself with all the run support she would need.

She was equally impressive on the mound, allowing only a fifth-inning single in the five-inning 10-0 blanking.

"It was a challenge because I played with all the girls on the (South Florida) team during summer ball," Gladding said. "I felt really good coming out, I was mixing my pitches and more controlling of the pitch count.

"I felt good at bat, I was pretty excited about that," a smiling Gladding added about her offensive explosion.

Coburn added a solo home run to right and Finch also drove in three runs in the win.

When Arizona began play on Friday against Louisville, Manuma set the stage for the weekend's home-run barrage with what Candrea said was the farthest home run he has seen hit during a game at Hillenbrand.

With two runners aboard, the powerful lefty sent a blast that may have reached the UA Mall after bouncing off the Gittings building roof in left-center field.

Finch added a solo home run and Gladding scattered three hits to earn the 6-2 decision in the circle.

In late action Friday, the Wildcats scratched across a couple early runs, and Finch shut down Notre Dame's offense for a 3-0 victory over the No. 14 Fighting Irish.

Sophomore catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest started things for the Wildcats with an RBI single, and both Gladding and Manuma earned RBI walks.

Finch struck out 11 and allowed only three hits in the first of her three weekend shutouts.

UA (12-2) was led offensively this weekend by junior shortstop Lovie Jung's seven hits from the leadoff spot, and the team finished the five-game sweep hitting seven home runs.

In the circle, its pitchers only allowed two runs - both in the first inning of the opening game against Louisville.

"We made some progress and I think that's the big thing," Candrea said. "We had a much better effort mentally the entire game, and I thought our focus was very good.

"It was a good weekend, but we have a long way to go and need to keep working hard."