CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Alicia Hollowell delivers to the plate yesterday against Arkansas. The Wildcats beat the Razorbacks 9-1 earlier in the weekend. Hollowell tossed her second career no-hitter öö a 6-0 decision against Minnesota.

Wildcats drop Arkasas 9-1 after five-inning mercy rule

Five innings is all it took for No. 2 Arizona to run over Arkansas in the Arizona Pepsi Softball Classic yesterday.

The mercy rule was implemented after the Wildcats earned an eight-run lead, beating the Razorbacks 9-1.

Arizona improved to 13-1, losing its only game against the University of Texas last weekend.

"There were bright spots," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "The short game was good and we drove in runs. It's time to get back to work."

Offensively, Arizona looked like one of the country's best, earning 13 hits in comparison to Arkansas' five.

"As a team we had our ups and downs," third baseman Jackie Coburn said. "We hit the ball extremely well, but we've got to play better defense. We can't just hit the ball out of the park."

Freshman pitcher Alicia Hollowell picked up the win for Arizona.

Hollowell (7-1) faced just 20 batters and struck out nine.

Defense was an entirely different story, however, for the Wildcats. It was so sloppy that it earned a poor mark from Candrea.

"I'd give our whole defense a D," he said. "Our goal is to continue to get better, and we need more quality Tuesdays through Thursdays (practices)."

After committing just one error in all six games last weekend in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament, the Wildcats picked up two errors yesterday alone.

Although Coburn's game was strong offensively ÷ she had three hits and scored two runs in three at bats ÷ defensively she was off.

"I would give myself a D. I need to play better defense," Coburn said. "I wasn't mentally prepared. If balls are hit to me, I need to go over it in my mind and know what I'm going to do with it."

Rain canceled Friday's two scheduled games against Minnesota and Northwestern.

The Wildcats resumed on Saturday, playing against Florida International and then Minnesota.

Hollowell pitched another no-hitter in the 6-0 win over Minnesota.

The UA freshman was on a roll, striking out the first seven batters she faced, and she struck out 15 hitters that day, tying her career-high record.

"(Alicia) gave two good performances," Candrea said. "Last night she was awesome and today she had some moments."

Senior Lovieanne Jung picked up home run number eight with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

The 6-3 victory over Florida International resembled yesterday's win over Arkansas, but with a sloppier defense.

The Wildcats committed four errors, but thanks to 15 hits, UA won its first game of the tournament.

Coburn hit her third home run of the season with a two-run blast in the second inning.

The Wildcats will host their next tournament this weekend in the Worth Wildcat Invitational.

Although two of UA's three games were filled with poor defense, Candrea isn't concerned.

"We need to take little steps to get better," Candrea said. "It's not a lack of effort but a lack of maturity. We took a step back yesterday, but today we came out and did some good things."