Of the nine games that remain on the Arizona softball team's schedule, only three will be played within the friendly confines of Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

However, that is not one of the most important factors in the top-ranked Wildcats' quest for the title.

As any coach will tell you, it's the postseason that matters most. Even if the Wildcats were to lose all six road games, they would still enter the postseason as a feared, championship-caliber team.

These are a few things to keep an eye on as the Wildcats make their final push toward the postseason.

1. Wendy Allen

Heading into tonight's matchup with Arizona State, and this weekend's date with Oregon and Oregon State, one big key will be the arm ÷ or wrist, rather ÷ of junior pitcher Wendy Allen.

Allen, who is the supporting role behind freshman Alicia Hollowell, has been plagued by an abnormality in her pitching wrist.

This creates two problems for the Wildcats. The first is the fact that Allen is the only other legitimate pitcher on the squad, and at least having the option of giving Hollowell rest is a luxury that head coach Mike Candrea would love to have.

This might not be such a huge deal, because softball pitchers start much more frequently than that of their baseball counterparts, but rest is rest nonetheless. With the grueling postseason approaching, and Hollowell in line to get most ÷ if not all ÷ of Arizona's starts, these final nine games would be an ideal time for Hollowell to taper a bit so she can be on her game when the postseason starts.

Secondly, Hollowell is a freshman, and for a freshman to be expected to heed all the pressures of her first postseason is tough to say the least. Again, even if Hollowell is in the circle the majority of the time, Allen will at least provide somewhat of a safety net for Hollowell. In the back of her mind, Hollowell will know that the team's future relies solely on her.

2. Seniors step it up

In 2001 it was senior catcher Lindsey Collins that chalked up the only run of the NCAA Championship game with a solo homerun in the fourth inning. It was the only run UA would need en route to its 1-0 win over UCLA.

Even before Collins' game winner, the Wildcats had to overcome a 4-0 deficit to Oklahoma to even reach the title game.

Again, it was the seniors stepping up.

Unable to get anything going, the Wildcats put together a scoring threat in the sixth, and senior Toni Mascarenas hit a three-run homer to pull to within one.

In the seventh, Arizona tied it when freshman Mackenzie Vandergeest hit a solo homerun to tie it, and in the eighth, senior Nicole Giordano scored the game winner after singling and being moved to third and finally home on an error.

This year, senior do-everything shortstop Lovie Jung and her double-play mate, Lisha Ribellia, are the only seniors on the squad, a sharp contrast to the 2001 experience-laden team, but Vandergeest has been there and has that experience. If the Wildcats are going to win their second title in three years, it's going to have to be on the strength of those three, either intangibly or in the box score.

3. Helping Hollowell

The Wildcats thrive on their ability to cross the plate. The more runs they score, the less pressure there will be on Hollowell to sit down every batter she faces. Often times, softball World Series games are low scoring, as was the case in the 2001 title game.

The Wildcats have nine games left to get the bats going. Not everyone on the roster has to hit like Jung (if they did, the title might as well be shipped overnight to Tucson right now), but each player should feel that they can be the one to get that critical hit with the game is on the line.

4. ĪD' is the biggest key

As is the case with run scoring, a single error can be the difference between winning it all or going home empty. It was an error on a routine double-play ball in the eighth inning that allowed the Wildcats to score the game winner in the 2001 semifinals, rather than stranding two runners.

Candrea questioned his team's defense at the beginning of this season, but recently, it has been sound and should continue to be through the home stretch.