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Arizona hits Oregon Trial for 3-game series


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Arizona Daily Wildcat


By Chris Martin
Arizona Daily Wildcat,
April 28, 2000
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Opposing coaches worried about Wildcat offense

The Arizona softball team wraps up a nine game road trip this weekend in Oregon as the Wildcats try to stay alive in the Pacific 10 Conference title chase.

With the No. 2 Wildcats trailing both UCLA and Washington, the team must sweep their three games against No. 13 Oregon State and No. 18 Oregon in order to remain with striking distance for the top spot in conference.

Arizona will begin their crucial three-game series with a contest against the Beavers (33-13-1 overall, 3-7 Pac-10) today at 2 p.m. in Corvallis, Ore.

"At this time of year every game is important," UA head coach Mike Candrea said. "We need to win to stay in the race."

Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jennie Finch will be in the circle for UA. Finch, who has struggled recently - losing her previous two games - will seek to regain the form she had on April 1, when she shutout the Beavers 11-0, in Tucson.

"We need to come out and be a little more aggressive when we play UA," OSU senior pitcher/infielder Tarrah Beyster said. "We have had some really good practices lately and have swung the bats real well."

Oregon State head coach Kirk Walker said his team is more worried about the Wildcats (45-7, 8-4) potent offense rather than their pitching.

"Any game in conference, it is going to come down to keeping their hitters from digging in and hitting aggressively," he said.

Junior center fielder Nicole Giordano is leading Arizona in batting with a .352 average and leads the Pac-10 with 80 hits.

UA faces a young Beaver team that despite their high national ranking, struggled in the beginning of conference play.

"We have a very young team, we have four to five freshman starting at any one time," Walker said. "I would equate it to the Arizona team last year when they were starting a lot of young kids."

Even with their young team, the Beavers are playing much better, having won seven straight games.

"We do feel like the momentum has shifted our way," Beyster said. "It has become a confidence booster for us."

After the game against OSU, the Wildcats will travel to Eugene, Ore. for a pair of games with the Ducks (30-18, 4-6).

Oregon is one of the hotter team's in the Pac-10, as they have also won seven straight games, including a road trip to the Bay Area against higher ranked teams California and Stanford.

Like Walker, Oregon head coach Rick Gamez is worried about the strong Arizona offense.

"We've got to make sure we to keep theirs hitters off the bases, especially the top of the order," he said.

Along with Giordano, senior second baseman Katie Swan and third baseman Toni Mascarenas have been consistently getting on base and setting the table for UA power hitters Finch and junior catcher Lindsey Collins.

"I think it is going to be a big key for us to keep the top of the lineup on base," Candrea said.

Junior pitcher Becky Lemke will pitch tomorrow at 1 p.m. for UA and Finch will follow on Sunday at the same time.

"We need to win, it is that simple," Candrea said. "I think at this time of the year, playing a great game and not winning doesn't cut it."


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