#4 ARIZONA at (RV) CALIFORNIA
MARCH 31-APRIL 2 • BERKELEY, CALIF.
THE GAMES (Times MST)
1 |
7,
0 |
Recap |
Box Score
2 |
6,
0 |
Recap |
Box Score
3 |
6,
1 |
Recap |
Box Score
WEEKLY NOTES
THIS WEEK: Following a midweek doubleheader with Grand Canyon, Arizona (34-1, 6-0 Pac-12) resumes Pac-12 play in Berkeley this weekend, meeting California (21-8, 3-3 Pac-12) in a three-game series at Levine-Fricke Field. The Wildcats will put a 19-game winning streak on the line, their longest since 2005, in Berkeley, where Arizona has not swept a series since the conference moved to three-game series in 2010. Overall, Arizona is 75-32 against Cal and has won each of the last two three series with the Bears, including 2-1 last year in Tucson. The Cats and Bears meet in a trio of games televised by the Pac-12 Networks, Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.).
CATS AT A GLANCE
- Arizona is off to its best 35-game start (34-1) since 2004 and ranked No. 4 in the country, its highest regular season ranking since week 4 of 2011.
- Through 35 games this season, the Wildcats are outscoring their opponents 279-36. Their offense has hit more home runs (NCAA-most 51) than their opponents have total runs (36). UA has over 100 more hits (317) than its opponent has total bases (181).
- Head coach Mike Candrea became the first coach in NCAA softball history to reach 1,500 Division I victories on Sunday vs. Washington. Candrea, who is 1,502-380-2 (.797), trails only Michigan's Carol Hutchins (1,506 wins) in NCAA history. Candrea's 1,500 victories have occurred over 30 years of coaching while Hutchins is in her 35th year (including a season in a lower NCAA division).
- Candrea is the fastest coach in NCAA history, in any sport, in any division, to record 1,500 career wins.
- UA leads the Pac-12 in slugging percentage (.583), runs scored (279), hits (317), RBI (245), doubles (52), home runs (51), walks (158), ERA (0.88), opposing batting average (.164) and strikeouts (255).
- Arizona has not allowed more than four runs in a game this season. The Wildcats are second in the nation with a 0.88 team ERA. Meanwhile, the UA offense is scoring 7.97 runs per game, second best nationally.
- Through seven weeks, Arizona has earned nine of the 21 Pac-12 weekly awards (Player, Pitcher and Freshman), by six different players. Arizona has had three Pac-12 Players of the Week (Katiyana Mauga – 1, Mo Mercado – 3, Jessie Harper – 6), three Pac-12 Pitchers of the Week (Danielle O'Toole – 3, Michelle Floyd – 5, Danielle O'Toole – 7) and three Pac-12 Freshmen of the Week (Dejah Mulipola – 2, Jessie Harper – 5, Jessie Harper – 6).
- Arizona has the top two pitchers (by ERA) in the Pac-12. Danielle O'Toole leads the way with a 0.77 ERA and Taylor McQuillin is right behind her at 0.78. Arizona has not had two pitchers finish the season with ERAs south of 1.00 since 2001.
- The Wildcats are second in the NCAA RPI, a metric relied on heavily for seeding the NCAA Tournament. The Pac-12 makes up the first three spots, as the Cats are sandwiched by Washington (No. 1) and Oregon (No. 3).
- Arizona has scored 75 runs in the first inning this season. That's more than double its pitchers have allowed all season (36) in all innings combined.
- Arizona's freshmen have more combined home runs (27) than 254 Division I teams, including four Pac-12 teams. Arizona leads the nation as a team with 51 round-trippers.
- Two Wildcats (Mandie Perez - 44, Dejah Mulipola - 39) have scored more runs individually than UA's opponents combined (34). Alyssa Palomino has driven in more runs (37) as well.
ARIZONA vs. CAL: Arizona is 75-32 all-time vs. Cal and has won each of the last three series (losing just game 2 each time). The Wildcats won the series in Tucson last season, with two mercy victories sandwiching a 5-3 loss (full recap on page 5).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS: Cal (21-8, 3-3 Pac-12) is coming off a sweep at rival Stanford last weekend ... Cal has outscored opponents 136-90 this season ... The Bears have stolen 35 bases in 43 attempts ... Cal is led by Kobie Pettis (.372 avg, 5 2B, .490 OBP, .462 slg) and Jazmyn Jackson (.352 avg, 13 2B 22 RBI) offensively ... Six different pitchers have seen time in the cirlce, with most of the work going to Zoe Conley (11-6, 2.62 ERA, 82 K, 112.1 IP) ... Shortstop Linday Rood's brother Matt is a team manager for Arizona.
