No. 1 UA, No. 3 Bruins split twin-bill in Calif.

The top-ranked Wildcats split their first two conference matches of the season on the always tough trip to No. 3 UCLA.

The Wildcats (31-2 overall, 5-1 conference) beat the Bruins (27-6 overall, 9-3 in conference), 4-1 in the first game but lost the second game, 5-1 at Easton Stadium.

Both games were dominated by the respective pitchers. Nancy Evans stifled the Bruins in the first game, throwing five strikeouts, walking two and allowing only one earned run. In the second game it was all Christa Williams. The Bruin freshman pitcher struckout nine UA batters, walked three and allowed one earned run.

In the first game the Wildcats were silent until a watershed third inning in which third baseman Lety Pineda hit her conference-leading 13th home run of the year, scoring Alison Johnson and Leah O'Brien. In the fifth inning UCLA left fielder Courtney Dale hit a solo home run off Evans. Arizona scored again in the seventh inning, giving Evans her 16th win of the season.

The second game was to the Bruins what the first game was to the Wildcats. UCLA shelled Wildcat senior Carrie Dolan. Dolan allowed five earned runs, while picking up her second loss in as many outings. Arizona managed to score only once, despite Alison Johnson's three-hit, two stolen base effort.

Williams, a member of the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. softball team, was in prime form. In her fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season, Williams used a variety of pitches to nullify the normally potent Arizona offense. The win improved Williams' record to 10-3.

The Wildcats return home this week to prepare for a grueling weekend, which includes doubleheaders against No. 5 Washington and No. 2 Fresno State. Arizona already has a victory over the Huskies this season, but that was without Eve Gaw, Washington's best pitcher. The Bulldogs could also make an argument for a No. 1 ranking if they beat UA.