KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona pitcher Wendy Allen and the Wildcats look to cruise past the competition this weekend at the Red Raider Classic, hosted by Texas Tech.

The wagons are headed east.

After playing three consecutive tournaments in the comfort of Hillenbrand Stadium, it's time for the Wildcats to head to a different time zone.

The No. 2 Arizona softball team (21-2) heads to Lubbock, Texas for the Red Raider Classic, starting today when they take the field against Wichita State at 5 p.m.

"Playing on the road, the more experience the better," said head coach Mike Candrea. "We have to win on the road in the Pac-10."

With the Pac-10 schedule 25 days away, the Wildcats are using every tournament, and every game, as stepping-stones on the path of success. Last week, the Wildcats left the Hillenbrand Invitational in their wake. UA finished 4-0, without allowing a run, and claimed the tournament title.

"We're on a roll and we want to keep that going," said senior shortstop Lovieanne Jung, who is leading the team with 11 homeruns.

Jung, along with teammates Mackenzie Vandergeest and Alicia Hollowell, has been put on the official "watch list" for the USA Collegiate Player of the Year.

But the Wildcats' main concern is getting ready for the Pac-10, the conference that has produced the last two National Champions with California last year and UA in 2001.

"I think we're getting where we need to be for the Pac-10," said Vandergeest, who is batting .338. "We're on our way, we just need to get some more games under our belt."

The schedule this weekend also features the host, Texas Tech, and New Mexico on Saturday. UA plays Columbia on Sunday, a team that has yet to play a game this season. The two Saturday teams have a combined 12-26 record, so UA has to be cautious not to overlook their opponents.

"We need to pretend we're playing ourselves, so that we're ready," Vandergeest said.

Arizona has to build on what they have accomplished, and continue make themselves play better while not worrying about other teams, according to Candrea.

"Every game is a test," Candrea said. "And the key is to be better test takers. It isn't one big step, it's little steps along the way."

Hollowell has been most impressive from the circle with 136 strikeouts in 86 innings, including six double-digit games, currently leading all other Pac-10 pitchers.

Opponent Previews

Wichita State (9-5) is coming off a weekend where they swept the Big-12 schools they faced in the Islander Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas. The highlight for the Shockers came when they downed No. 25 Baylor, 3-1. They also defeated New Mexico in extra innings of the championship game, 4-2.

Texas Tech (9-17) plays for the first time on their own field after finishing a brutal 26-game road-trip.

The Lady Lobos of New Mexico (3-11) have already faced Texas Tech this season in the Islander Invitational, where they beat the Lady Raiders, 5-0.