FILE PHOTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona third-baseman Jackie Coburn winds up as she tries to throw out a runner at first. Coburn leads the top-ranked Wildcats into action this weekend as UA plays host to Bay Area schools Stanford and California for a three-game set at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

Softball returns home to face Bay Area's best after sweeping top-ranked UCLA

When freshman pitcher Alicia Hollowell signed her letter of intent to attend No. 1 Arizona, she disappointed four of the Pac-10's top teams ÷ who were also four of the best in the nation.

With UCLA knocking on her door, Hollowell turned Westwood down, similar to the way she defeated the Bruins last weekend, with a 3-0 shutout on Saturday and a 5-1 win on Sunday.

This weekend, Hollowell will have the opportunity to dismantle the two teams from her native region of Northern California at home, the same two squads that were eager to have her play for their respective programs.

Check it out · Today: Stanford, 7 p.m. · Tomorrow: California, 7 p.m. · Sunday: California, 1 p.m. Site: Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium

The Wildcats take the field tonight at 7 against No. 13 Stanford, followed by two games against No. 5 California ÷ tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

"There's motivation for every game," Hollowell said. "I just want to win and go out with the same respect for every team and do what it takes to win."

When the Wildcats face Cal, it will be their first encounter with the Golden Bears since they were defeated in the 2002 College World Series Championship 6-0, sparking a bit of fire in the Wildcat dugout.

Although they are approaching the weekend series with the same intensity they would for any other opponent, the Wildcats have an extra motivation to send Cal home with a two-game series loss.

"We've got a sour taste after last time," UA assistant coach Larry Ray said. "We'll treat it the same and go in with the same attitude."

In last weekend's three-game series sweep against Washington and UCLA, Hollowell picked up three wins after pitching in two 3-0 shutouts and an additional victory over UCLA.

Hollowell will get her first pitching job against a Stanford team she turned down. Hollowell's pitching duties for the rest of the weekend are still unclear because the coaching staff wants to make sure not to overwork her.

"Nothing's set in stone," UA assistant coach Nancy Evans said. "She's starting on Friday and we'll go from there. We're treating it like it is, another Pac-10 game. Of course, there's always revenge in the back of our mind."

In Pac-10 play, the Wildcats are 6-0 after defeating the Oregon schools in their Pac-10 home openers, along with sweeping two of the top teams in the country on the road last weekend.

With the defense at its best all season, and Hollowell pitching solid performances, the Wildcats are determined to continue executing their game and keep doing what it takes to win.

"Win a game and you've done your job," Evans said. "There's one place we want to be, but it takes everyone to get the job done."

All three games this weekend will be held at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

Notes

The Amateur Softball Association announced its 25 finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year Award this week. Hollowell and senior shortstop Lovie Jung were both nominated for the award. Hollowell has guided the Wildcats to the top spot in the rankings by posting a personal record of 24-2 on the year. Jung currently leads the Pac-10 with 20 homeruns while batting .442 and driving in 59 runs so far this season.