Alicia Hollowell lost more than a decision in the No. 2 Arizona softball team's 6-3 loss Sunday to No. 3 California.

The junior pitcher missed out on her 101st career victory, which would have tied her for fifth place with Susie Parra (1991-1994) on Arizona's all-time victories list.

As it is, Hollowell (19-2), who carries a .72 ERA in 146 1/3 innings with a Pacific 10 Conference-high 271 strikeouts, can move into a tie for third place with three victories this week against No. 20 ASU, No. 12 Oregon State and Oregon.

Carrie Dolan went 103-13 from 1994-1997 and Becky Lemke finished 103-19 from 1998-2001.

Hollowell credits her success to teammates over the last three seasons.

"They've been there and made the plays and got the runs," she said.

Hollowell broke the Arizona single-season record for wins with 40 in 2003 and passed it with 41 victories last season. She also holds the Arizona record for strikeouts in a season, 508 in 2004, the fifth most in NCAA history.

National audience to be welcomed at Hillenbrand

ESPNU, ESPN's new college sports network, plans to televise two of Arizona's three home games this weekend, as start times for two of the three matchups were changed to accommodate the telecasts.

The Wildcats open against Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU and continue Saturday against Oregon at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Arizona ends the weekend at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Ducks, also on ESPNU.

"Obviously, it is a big honor," said Arizona assistant coach Larry Ray. "Whenever the media industry takes notice, it shows they expect us to be there at the end."

ESPNU plans to show three games between the Wildcats and No. 13 UCLA in April and May.

Right field still not settled for Cats

With All-Americans sophomore Caitlin Lowe and Autumn Champion patrolling center and left field, respectively, who can blame the team for having a little anonymity in its outfield?

Senior Allyson Von Liechtenstein and redshirt junior Courtney Fossatti have shuffled starts in right field all season long for the Wildcats with similar returns.

Von Liechtenstein has hit .239 in 25 appearances with 17 starts, as Fossatti, who missed last season recovering from ankle surgery, is batting mere percentage points less (.236 in 22 starts).

Fossatti kept a perfect fielding percentage before misplaying a fly ball during Arizona's loss to Cal Sunday. She has 12 putouts and one assist in 14 chances this season (.939).

Von Liechtenstein has four putouts in four chances.

"We're looking for whoever takes care of business, offensively and defensively," Ray said. "We hope that one of them is going to separate herself."

Injury, not ineffectiveness, leaving Mowatt on bench

Freshman pitcher Taryne Mowatt won her first seven starts as a Wildcat before giving up a season-high four runs in 3 1/3 innings March 20 against No. 1 Michigan.

Though Mowatt (7-1) has not seen any mound time since, punishment is not in the picture.

Ray said a sore muscle in her back kept Mowatt from throwing against No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette two weeks ago.

The injury did not heal enough for Mowatt to keep Hollowell from making all three starts last weekend against No. 9 Stanford and Cal.

Junior Leslie Wolfe, whose last start came March 13, pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief in Arizona's loss to the Golden Bears.

"We hope to have her ready for the weekend," Ray said of Mowatt.

Mowatt is second on the team with a .86 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings.

Defense putting up numbers

With a pitching staff that has sent opposing hitters either shuffling to first base or marching back to the dugout, Arizona's defense has remained quiet yet steady.

Entering Monday, the Wildcats led the Pac-10 in strikeouts (351), earned run average (.83) and opponents' batting average (.138) while allowing the fewest runs (38), doubles (10) and hits (101).

The team carries the second-highest fielding percentage in the conference - .976, just behind Cal's .977 - a mark that puts Arizona on pace to tie its sixth-best season in the field (2003).

"It's a team effort," Ray said. "Our pitching staff gets a lot of credit for that."

putouts and one assist in 14 chances this season (.939).

Von Liechtenstein has four putouts in four chances.

"We're looking for whoever takes care of business, offensively and defensively," Ray said. "We hope that one of them is going to separate herself."

Injury, not ineffectiveness, leaving Mowatt on bench

Freshman pitcher Taryne Mowatt won her first seven starts as a Wildcat before giving up a season-high four runs in 3 1/3 innings March 20 against No. 1 Michigan.

Though Mowatt (7-1) has not seen any mound time since, punishment is not in the picture.

Ray said a sore muscle in her back kept Mowatt from throwing against No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette two weeks ago.

The injury did not heal enough for Mowatt to keep Hollowell from making all three starts last weekend against No. 9 Stanford and Cal.

Junior Leslie Wolfe, whose last start came March 13, pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief in Arizona's loss to the Golden Bears.

"We hope to have her ready for the weekend," Ray said of Mowatt.

Mowatt is second on the team with a .86 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings.

Defense putting up numbers

With a pitching staff that has sent opposing hitters either shuffling to first base or marching back to the dugout, Arizona's defense has remained quiet yet steady.

Entering Monday, the Wildcats led the Pac-10 in strikeouts (351), earned run average (.83) and opponents' batting average (.138) while allowing the fewest runs (38), doubles (10) and hits (101).

The team carries the second-highest fielding percentage in the conference - .976, just behind Cal's .977 - a mark that puts Arizona on pace to tie its sixth-best season in the field (2003).

"It's a team effort," Ray said. "Our pitching staff gets a lot of credit for that."