Softball teams that have traveled to Tucson for early season tournaments have not been treated too nicely by the home team.

Kevin Klaus/ Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore first baseman Leneah Manuma catches a put-out at first base earlier this season. The Wildcats will hold the annual Wildcat Invitational this weekend at Hillenbrand Stadium.

Unless you consider being outscored 80-6 by your hosts a warm welcome.

The Wildcats will look to continue their dominance at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium when they kick off the Hillenbrand Invitational against Southern Mississippi (6-7) at 3 p.m. today.

Arizona will meet Hawaii (9-7) at the conclusion of that game, while the Wildcats will square off against Eastern Michigan (2-6) - for the third time in a week - and Evansville (10-7) tomorrow.

The host team will finish its third home tournament in as many weekends against Long Beach State (15-5) on Sunday.

After a perfect 10-0 record the last two weekends at Hillenbrand, head coach Mike Candrea said this tournament will provide UA with another opportunity to take strides forward.

"Obviously (this weekend) is a nice competitive field for us," Candrea said. "I think it will be a good weekend to continue to improve."

Over the last several weeks, the Wildcats have steadily played better as a team, led by their pitching duo of sophomore Jenny Gladding and senior Jennie Finch.

The pair has combined for eight shutouts in the Wildcats' last 10 victories, including a second-straight blanking of Eastern Michigan on Wednesday.

Arizona has also tightened things up defensively as of late, committing only three errors during their current 11-game winning streak.

"Defensively, we've gotten better at a lot of the little things," Candrea said. "We're doing a better job communicating and being ready on the mental side of things."

The Wildcats (18-2) will look to stay hot this weekend as they take the field with a 58-game home wining streak.

Assistant coach Larry Ray said he realizes this tournament might be the toughest field that Arizona plays host to this season.

"The first day is going to be a tough one," Ray said. "Southern Miss has always been good, and Hawaii has a good program."

While the No. 2 Wildcats have nearly a month before kicking off their Pac-10 conference schedule, their competition on Sunday has already done some damage against one of the conference's best.

"Long Beach State beat (top-ranked) UCLA as well," Ray said. "So (this tournament) is going to be a good one. We're going to have to continue to play well."