Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

UA takes 2 of 3 in weekend tournament

All UA softball head coach Mike Candrea wanted was for his players to be aggressive.

After the first three games of the season, he has to like his team's chances for the season.

"If they come out and play like they did this weekend, then we have a chance to have a great year," Candrea said. "I thought we were very aggressive, and that's been my biggest thing with us."

The No. 4 Wildcats (2-1) made an impressive showing this weekend at the Pepsi Arizona Softball Classic by taking two games from No. 5 Southern Mississippi and losing a heartbreaker to No. 2 Washington.

UA opened the weekend by beating the Golden Eagles, 9-1.

Junior pitcher Becky Lemke was outstanding as she threw a no-hitter, walking three and striking out five.

The only Southern Mississippi (0-4) run came on a Lemke throwing error.

"I felt like I was throwing pretty good, I was happy with the way I threw," Lemke said.

Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Jennie Finch and junior catcher Lindsey Collins led the offense as they each homered in the contest.

The offense came to a halt when the Wildcats faced off against the Huskies (3-0) and senior pitcher Jennifer Spediacci.

Lemke and Spediacci squared off in a classic pitchers' duel, holding both teams scoreless throughout the first five innings.

The only run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning as Husky junior third baseman Kim DePaul hit a two-out homer off Lemke.

"Our pitcher did the job today, except for one pitch, but that's going to happen," junior outfielder Lauren Bauer said. "We just need to give her the offense that she needs."

The Wildcats had opportunities to even the score in the bottom of the sixth, but junior first baseman Erika Hanson and junior outfielder Nicole Giordano were thrown out in close plays at the plate.

With Arizona unable to take advantage of its opportunities, the Huskies squeaked away with a 1-0 victory. The Wildcats out-hit the Huskies, 6-3.

"Give them (Washington) credit," Candrea said. "They are a good team, they aren't ranked two for no reason."

The Wildcats regained their offensive power in their final game against Southern Mississippi with a resounding 10-2 victory.

Junior shortstop Allison Andrade led the way for UA with a first inning grand slam into the left field bleachers.

"I went up there looking to be aggressive. That's what Coach (Candrea) and I have been working on," Andrade said. "I just saw it nice and it felt really good, it was a hard hit ball."

Freshman infielder Lisha Ribella also had a breakout game for the Wildcats as she hit two triples in her collegiate debut.

With the UA offense putting up runs, Finch pitched a steady game, shutting down the Golden Eagles offense.

The only Southern Mississippi runs came when senior shortstop Amy Berman hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard.

Candrea was pleased with the Wildcats overall performance this weekend.

"I thought we had a chance to play two very good teams and I thought we played very well against them," Candrea said. "I like the performance that I saw out of this group."