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Bringing the heat

Most softball teams are lucky to have one quality pitcher; very few can say they have two legitimate aces.

The No. 4 UA softball team (8-1 overall) has the luxury of using sophomore Jennie Finch and junior Becky Lemke to mow down opposing teams.

In fact, Lemke and Finch have been down right dominating, allowing only seven earned runs in 54 innings of work.

"We are good friends, I know some other teams might have conflicts but we are in just total support of each other because we know you can't win all your games with one pitcher," Lemke said. "I feel so much better that her and I are together because I feel (UA softball head) coach (Mike Candrea) has two strong pitchers for the team."

Lemke, the team's No. 1 starter, won four games last weekend at the Fiesta Bowl Classic Softball Tournament, including victories against No. 3 Fresno State and No. 18 South Carolina.

Overall, Lemke has a record of 5-1, with the lone defeat being a 1-0 loss to Washington.

Her recent performance earned her Pacific 10 Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.

"She is very dominating, really determined," Finch said of her pitching partner.

Lemke's earned run average is a minuscule 0.95 and she has struck out 37 batters in 38 innings.

She has also thrown a no-hitter against No. 5 Southern Mississippi and a one-hitter against Texas A&M.

While Lemke's excellence has been limited to the pitching circle, Finch has excelled both on the mound and at the plate.

Finch is leading the team with three home runs and tied for second with nine RBI.

"I feel really good and I am really focusing on just seeing the ball more," Finch said.

She also is batting .348 and leads the team with a .783 slugging percentage.

Lemke said her favorite Finch highlight of the year was her two-run bleacher blast against UNLV.

"I was just like 'Bomb, that a girl,'" Lemke said. "She just goes out and has fun just doing her stuff."

Finch also has been perfect in the field, solidifying the right-side of the infield.

On the mound, Finch has been just as dominating going 3-0 with a 1.69 earned run average.

Two of the victories came this past weekend, as she three-hit the UNLV Running Rebels and one-hit Tennessee-Chatanooga.

"I think I came into the season a lot more focused," Finch said. "I was just really focused on consistency this year."

The focus has shown as she has been nearly unhittable, giving up only seven hits this year in 16 innings pitched while striking out 12.

With Finch and Lemke leading the way, the Wildcats have won seven straight.

The dynamic duo have a combined 1.17 ERA and have recorded three shutouts in this young season.

They have been so dominating that only two teams - Southern Mississippi and South Carolina - have scored as many as two runs against them.

"I am like, 'Hey batter, I am a good pitcher, Jennie is a good pitcher, bring it on, bring your best stuff,'" Lemke said.

Chris Martin can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.