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Offensive explosion

In what was a tune up for this weekend's Fiesta Bowl Classic, the UA softball team manhandled an overmatched Pima Community College team in an exhibition doubleheader yesterday.

The Wildcats won in impressive fashion in the first game, 16-1.

In the second game, junior pitcher Becky Lemke and sophomore pitcher Jennie Finch combined to throw a no-hitter as UA prevailed 10-0.

"We knew that going against Pima, it could have been an easy game if we played Arizona softball," senior outfielder Chrissy Gill said. "No matter who it is, no matter what the score, 18-to-nothing, 25-to-nothing, we still have to go out there and play Arizona softball, and we did."

All nine UA batters got hits in the first game as the Wildcats scored 16 runs on 13 hits.

Junior outfielder Lauren Bauer had four RBIs, and Finch smashed a three-run homer to pace the Wildcats offensively.

"It was a slower pitcher, so I feel like we adjusted really well to her speed," junior shortstop Allison Andrade said. "We wanted to concentrate on just hitting the ball hard, not shooting for the fences but just good, hard line-drives."

Junior Teresa Ayoub saw her first action in the circle this year, giving up one run in four innings.

While the offensive shined in the first game, dominant pitching was the key to victory in the second.

Lemke pitched the first two innings and struck out all six batters that she faced, while Finch struck out the first two batters she faced, marking the eighth straight Aztec batter to strikeout.

Finch struck out a total of five but was even more sensational at the plate as she crushed her second three-run homer of the day into the centerfield bleachers.

"I was seeing the ball real good, and I just swung away," Finch said. "As a team, we came out and our goal was just never to let down and just keep it up."

Along with the three-run bomb, Finch also had two singles and a run to cap off her day.

Arizona also got strong performances from junior first baseman Erika Hanson, who had two hits and scored a run, and freshman third baseman Lindsey Rice, who had two singles and a RBI.

"We came out and did some good things, swung the bats aggressively and that's what we are trying to do," head coach Mike Candrea said. "I thought it would be good, instead of a practice, at least be able to put some people on the field, and it gave me a chance to play some kids that haven't had a chance to play much, and that's always good."