What a difference a pitcher made against the No. 2 Arizona softball team this weekend against No. 7 Oregon State.

The Wildcats fell 4-0 yesterday, as Beavers ace Brianne McGowan (31-5) struck out 12 and gave up five hits in seven innings.

Arizona (34-8, 8-6 Pacific 10 Conference) had routed OSU (38-10, 11-4) 9-0 in five innings Saturday, their first mercy-rule win this season, scoring three runs in the first, second and fifth innings off OSU's Amy Klever and Ta'Tyana McElroy.

"It was certainly not the same Arizona ball club they faced (Saturday)," said assistant coach Larry Ray.

In McGowan's first two starts against the Wildcats this season, she pitched two complete games, striking out a combined 20 batters and giving up 10 hits and no runs.

"She has an off-speed pitch that throws us off a little bit, but I think our hitters aren't being aggressive," Ray said.

Arizona senior pitcher Leslie Wolfe shut out the Beavers for 5 1/3 innings, giving up just three hits and striking out four.

In the sixth, OSU leadoff hitter Cambria Miranda singled down the third base line, a ball that Ray believed went foul but was ruled fair.

The Wildcats then replaced Wolfe with Hollowell to face the middle of the Beavers' lineup.

Hollowell made a throwing error to first on a sacrifice bunt by Mia Longfellow, advancing her to second and moving Miranda's pinch runner to third.

Hollowell intentionally walked designated hitter Vanessa Iapala, arguably the Beaver's most dangerous hitter, to get to catcher Lisa Allen.

On a full count with two outs, Allen belted a grand slam over the center field wall.

"It (Miranda's questionable single) kind of opened the door for them and they took advantage of it," Ray said.

Hollowell one-hit the Beavers Saturday, striking out three and not walking a batter.

Senior third baseman Jackie Coburn had a big day with the bat, going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the first inning and an RBI double in the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Kristie Fox was close behind in production, with a three-run homer in the second inning, as the Wildcats got 11 hits.

The Wildcats returned the favor of a home loss to OSU, which defeated them 1-0 in Tucson on April 8.

Oregon (29-19, 5-10) did about the same to the Wildcats Friday night.

The Wildcats easily put away the Ducks 8-1 April 9-10. Friday, the Ducks blanked Arizona 3-0.

Junior left fielder Autumn Champion, Fox and senior first baseman Crystal Farley were the only Wildcats to get hits against Oregon pitcher Amy Harris (14-10), who struck out 10.

Hollowell (23-7) gave up six hits and three runs in six innings, striking out five.

"It's a shame because it put a damper on some outstanding pitching performances," Ray said of the Wildcats' two weekend losses.