Alicia Hollowell put a convincing stamp yesterday on her record-breaking weekend for the No. 1 Arizona softball team.
Hollowell (8-0) struck out 15 and allowed three hits in seven innings, as the Wildcats (13-0) defeated host team No. 11 Baylor (17-3) 1-0 in the Compass Bank Invitational in Waco, Texas.
The junior ace has 1,029 career strikeouts, surpassing the mark held by Jennie Finch (1,028, 1999-2002).
Hollowell's two no-hitters on the weekend, tossed in a 7-0 win Saturday over Louisiana Tech and a 1-0 victory Friday against Sam Houston State, give her nine in her career, one more than Arizona assistant coach Nancy Evans (1994-1998) and Susie Parra (1991-1994).
"It comes at a good time, because right now, offensively, we are struggling a little bit," said Arizona assistant coach Larry Ray. "It's comforting to know that with her on the mound, very few teams are going to be able to score, and that's exactly what happened."
Junior left fielder Autumn Champion hit an infield single in the first inning and scored the decisive run on a two-out double by freshman catcher Callista Balko, who batted fourth Sunday.
"She really swung a decent bat this weekend," Ray said of Balko. "Hopefully, she can continue that, and hopefully, we can get some other kids to pick it up there, the pace, a little, too."
Balko went 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Lady Techsters (8-11).
Sophomore center fielder Caitlin Lowe continued a strong weekend with four hits, two runs and an RBI.
Senior infielder Jackie Coburn, who doubled yesterday, hit her second home run of the season off Louisiana Tech's Lindsey Meadows (4-7).
She ended 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Hollowell struck out 16, allowing two base runners on a wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch.
She fanned 15 Friday against Sam Houston State (5-13), also allowing two more batters than the minimum.
"Honestly, without her, we wouldn't be where we are right now," Ray said. "She's one of the top two pitchers in the college game right now, so she means a lot to us."
Freshman Taryne Mowatt pitched one-hit ball in relief of starter Leslie Wolfe against Birmingham-Southern (6-7) Friday.
After giving up leadoff hits in the top of the third inning, Wolfe was lifted for Mowatt (4-0), who struck out 10.
"Taryne did a very nice job," Ray said. "Leslie's problems weren't all her. We didn't help her a whole lot, and there were situations where players were putting the ball into play when it really shouldn't have been."
Arizona battled for four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lowe was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 3-2, after RBI singles by seniors Shelley Schultz and Crystal Farley.
Sophomore shortstop Kristie Fox, who hit a sacrifice fly to end Arizona's 2-1, eight-inning victory over Hawaii on Feb. 20, flied out to score Lowe for a two-run lead.
"It was a situation where we need to have good at-bats offensively, and we did that," Ray said. "I was very pleased and happy with that aspect, but we got to come out on the first pitch against everyone, knowing that the outcome of the very first pitch that's thrown could make the difference in the ballgame."
Arizona added two runs in the fourth, on a bases-loaded wild pitch and a double steal where Lowe stole home.
"She makes us go," Ray said.
The Wildcats return home this weekend for two games against Eastern Michigan. Arizona plays the Eagles at 6 p.m. Friday at Hillenbrand Stadium.