JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior Jennie Finch hits a first-inning home run today against Boston College at Hillenbrand Stadium. Finch pitched a one-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 9-0 victory and complete the series sweep.

Arizona caps 18-game homestand with another mercy rule victory

Jennie Finch can hurt you in more ways than one - Boston College found that out the hard way last night at Hillenbrand Stadium.

For the second consecutive night, the Wildcats defeated the Eagles by the mercy rule, taking the series finale 9-0 in a game that lasted just 70 minutes.

The senior pitcher, who is now 14-0 with the win, threw a one-hitter in the circle over five innings of work.

A bloop single to center by BC sophomore right fielder Jacqui Goodchild to lead off the game was all the offense the Eagles (3-11) could muster as Finch finished the game with 9 strikeouts - six of them looking.

Despite the good numbers, Finch didn't show her usual intensity in the circle - something that didn't escape her coach.

"She wasn't real sharp tonight," Arizona head coach Mike Candrea said. "I've seen her when she's hitting on all cylinders. She wasn't her normal come-out-and-here-it-is self."

Finch, though, said she was pleased with her overall performance in the circle and realizes the importance of these games in helping prepare for the tough Pacific 10 Conference schedule.

"Pac-10 play is a whole other ball game," she said. "We're getting ready and trying to prepare ourselves."

The Wildcats (24-2) wasted no time in getting their offense going against BC freshman right hander Michelle Daly (0-1).

Junior shortstop Lovie Jung singled to right to start the bottom of the first inning and was joined on base after the next batter, freshman Allyson Von Liechtenstein, beat out a bunt down the third base line for a single.

Finch then stepped into the box and deposited a two-strike pitch over the right field wall for her ninth home run of the year.

Her offensive production wasn't done there as she stepped to the plate in the second inning with the bases loaded and singled to center, scoring freshman second baseman Rebekah Quiroz from third and Jung from second.

Daly then went on to hit sophomore first baseman Leneah Manuma in the right shoulder to again load the bases.

BC coach Jennifer Finley removed Daly from the game after just one and a third innings of work.

Sophomore TeKae Malandris came into the game for the Eagles and didn't fare any better than her counterpart, giving up a grand slam to Arizona sophomore catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest.

The home run was Vandergeest's fifth of the year and nailed the coffin shut on the Eagles.

Vandergeest said she didn't approach the at-bat thinking home run.

"I was just working on my timing and trying to get my first step down," Vandergeest said.

Arizona will head to Salt Lake City for a two-game series on Saturday and Sunday against Utah.