Softball kicks off Pacific 10 against California, Stanford

Adam F. Jarrold Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior Leah O'Brien is congratulated after hitting a homerun against Florida during the Hillenbrand Invitational March 2. The Wildcats play their first conference game Saturday at 1 p.m.

"Cal's got good athletes, there a very capable team," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "Stanford is an up-and-coming program that'll get better in time."

The Wildcats are perfect so far this season, compiling a 21-0 record, but are third in the conference with this being their first games.

"I think in the future you will see us play more Pac-10 games early in the season," Candrea said. "This is what Pac-10 play is all about, being able to play back-to-back."

Cal (10-7) has played in four conference games this season. They shutout No. 3 UCLA, 7-0, and beat No. 8 Arizona State in a 5-3 squeaker. They also lost to the Bruins and the Sun Devils.

The Golden Bears are led by the pitching and hitting duo of designated hitter Jenny Ackley and pitcher Whitney Floyd. Ackley is third in the conference in hitting with a .490 average. Floyd is seventh in pitching with an ERA of 1.56.

Stanford (10-11) has played a total of nine games against ranked opponents. The only ranked opponent they have beaten was 3-2 over Cal State-Northridge in their third meeting of the season with the Matadors.

Arizona's Nancy Evans was the recipient of this week's Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week award. Evans won four games in last weekend's Hillenbrand Invitational, striking out 22 in 24 innings of work. She is 11-0 on the season, with an 0.78 ERA.

Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts. UA will face Cal tomorrow and Stanford Sunday.