Cats, Lopes Double Dip on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 29

Tucson, Ariz.

3:00 PM

University of Arizona

Grand Canyon

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Photo by: Chris Hook for Arizona Athletics

03/27/2017 | Softball

By: Arizona Athletics

#5 ARIZONA vs. GRAND CANYON
MARCH 29 • HILLENBRAND STADIUM

THE GAMES (Times MST)
1 | Wednesday, March 29 (3 p.m.) |

vs.

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WEEKLY NOTES

THIS WEEK: Following a 6-0 start to Pac-12 play, the Wildcats (32-1) take a break from league play to host Grand Canyon in a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Cats will then head to Cal for a three-game series with the Bears to resume league play. Arizona carries a 17-game winning streak into the week, including a three-game sweep over No. 6 Washington last weekend.

CATS AT A GLANCE

Arizona is off to its best 33-game start (32-1) since 2004 and ranked No. 5 in the country, its highest ranking at least six weeks into any season since 2010.
Through 33 games this season, the Wildcats are outscoring their opponents 260-34. Their offense has hit more home runs (NCAA-most 48) than their opponents have total runs (34). UA has over 100 more hits (302) than its opponent has total bases (168).
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 1,500-380-2 (.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 (.579), runs scored (260), hits (302), RBI (227), doubles (49), home runs (48), walks (148), ERA (0.87), opposing batting average (.159) and strikeouts (246).
Arizona has not allowed more than four runs in a game this season. The Wildcats are second in the nation with a 0.87 team ERA. Meanwhile, the UA offense is scoring 7.88 runs per game, second best nationally.
Through seven weeks, Arizona has earned eight of the 18 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 0.69 ERA and Taylor McQuillin is right behind her at 0.84. 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 74 runs in the first inning this season. That's more than double its pitchers have allowed all season (34) 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 48 round-trippers.
Two Wildcats (Dejah Mulipola - 37, Mandie Perez - 41) have scored more runs individually than UA's opponents combined (34). Alyssa Palomino has driven in more runs (37) as well.

ARIZONA vs. GRAND CANYON: Arizona is 2-0 all-time vs. Grand Canyon, winning both games against the Antelopes at the 2014 Hillenbrand Invitational.

SCOUTING THE ANTELOPES: Grand Canyon (25-9) also played Washington last week, falling in a doubleheader to the Huskies … GCU features a balanced offense that hits .317 as a team, led by Shea Smith (.387, 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and Camree Wartman (.370, 11 2B, 2 HR, 30 RBI) … The Lopes have stolen 33 bases and only been caught thrice … A trio of pitchers have posted a 2.46 ERA in 228.0 innings this season … Taylor Nowlin leads the team in innings pitched (94.2) and has a 13-4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 94 strikeouts ... Former Wildcat standout Kelsey Rodriguez is an assistant coach at Grand Canyon.