UA starts softball season with sweep

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore third baseman Toni Mascarenas waits for a pitch during a game last season. The softball team won all five of its season-opening games over the weekend.

Freshman pitcher Jennie Finch had to learn that the hard way yesterday afternoon at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium when she gave up a two-run homer to Washington freshman Jenny Topping in the first inning.

But Finch learns fast, as she went on to allow only five hits in the No. 2-ranked Wildcats' 3-2 victory over the No. 4 Huskies.

"This was a great win for us," Finch said. "It shows anything can happen."

Finch finished the game with three hits spread over the final six innings, with six strikeouts and added a 3-0 record to her name.

The Wildcats (5-0 overall) didn't let the Huskies (4-1) lead stand long, tying the score at 2-2 at the bottom of the first, with a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Lauren Bauer and an RBI single by junior outfielder Chrissy Gil.

Sophomore outfielder Nicole Giordano slid home past her sister, Washington junior catcher Jeanine Giordano, to seal the Wildcats' victory at 3-2 off sophomore catcher Lindsey Collins' single to right field.

Both Giordano sisters commented this year facing off against each other wasn't as nerve-wrecking as it was last year, admitting they both want victories for their own team, but secretly cheer for the other's personal performance.

Up until this final game in the Pepsi Softball Classic, both the Wildcats and Huskies had remained undefeated, beating Illinois-Chicago (0-4) and New Mexico State (0-4) in double-headers Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The Wildcats crept past Illinois-Chicago on Friday, 5-0 and 14-1, behind the pitching of sophomore Becky Lemke and Finch, respectively. Lemke struck out nine in her four-hit shutout, and continued her win streak in Saturday's first game against the Lobos, an 11-1 Arizona win.

In the second game Saturday, the Wildcats won with an 8-0 shutout behind a 12-hit attack led by Giordano with three RBI and three more RBI by sophomore third baseman Toni Mascarenas.

"I came out looking to be on time with the pitches that I could drive," Mascarenas said.

All-American Mascarenas also came through on offense against Illinois-Chicago with an RBI single and a three RBI double in the first game.

Head coach Mike Candrea was proud of the accomplishments this weekend, but like most coaches at the beginning of the season, he admitted there was still room for improvement for the Wildcats.

"No hits were close to clearing out of here," he said. "But this team can't be haunted by our past, they just have to see the little things and test what works for them and make it happen. And today (Sunday) they were out there trying to do that.

"We're still not where we need to be, but we're getting better and we are seeing the adjustments that need to be made."

The Wildcats have a week of practice before traveling to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl tournament Friday through Sunday, which will see them face off against South Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland and Long Beach State.

"This week we need to focus on hitting, we're just not as aggressive yet as we need to be," Mascarenas said. "And work a little bit more on our defense, too."

Kate Longworth can be reached at Kate.Longworth@wildcat.arizona.edu.