2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Arizona snapped its longest championship drought since 1991 with a team effort and incredible pitching performance by four-time All-American pitcher Alicia Hollowell.
The Wildcats opened the year on a tear, winning 24 of their first 25 games. UA dominated opponents over that span, winning games by an average of six runs a game. However, on March 16 Arizona entered a slide in which it went 10-8 over its next 18 contests. Prior to UA's April 30 doubleheader at Washington, the Wildcats found themselves in the bottom half of the Pac-10 standings.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Hollowell ruined the Huskies' Senior Day by tossing a no-hitter, leading to a 2-0 UA victory. The win catalyzed a 14-game winning streak that elevated Arizona to a second-place finish in the Pac-10 and within one game of reaching the WCWS.
After defeating LSU in the Tucson Super Regional to reach the WCWS, UA downed Pac-10 foe Oregon State in extra-innings to open WCWS play. That set up a matchup with Texas, setting up a duel of four-time All-Americans, Hollowell and Cat Osterman in the circle. The pair did not disappoint, as they allowed a total of five hits between them. Arizona broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Callista Balko singled home
Caitlin Lowe for what proved to be the game-winning run in a 2-0 Wildcat victory.
UA defeated Tennessee to reach the Championship Series, pitting the Wildcats against Northwestern. UA exploded with an 8-0 win in Game 1, led by a one-hit performance by Hollowell. The story of the game, and the series for that matter, was the Wildcats' speed on the base paths. UA's slappers Lowe, Autumn Champion and Adrienne Acton combined for three infield hits, four runs and forced three NU infield errors.
In Game 2, Arizona could smell the national championship, putting 12 hits on the board that led to an eventual 5-0 victory.
Finally, after all the ups and downs the team endured, the Wildcats tasted the sweetest of victories and in doing so, they brought the national championship trophy home to Tucson.
2006 ROSTER
| # |
Name |
Year |
Position |
Hometown (Last School) |
| 0 |
Autumn ChampionAC2 |
Sr. |
LF |
Tustin, Calif. (Foothill H.S.) |
| 4 |
Adrienne Acton |
So. |
RF |
Marana, Ariz. (Marana H.S.) |
| 6 |
Jill Malina |
Fr. |
OF |
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Pinnacle H.S.) |
| 9 |
Taryne Mowatt |
So. |
P/OF |
Corona, Calif. (Corona Santiago H.S.) |
| 12 |
Danielle Rodriguez |
So. |
2B |
Tucson, Ariz. (Tucson H.S.) |
| 14 |
Chelsie Mesa |
Jr. |
2B/SS |
Yuma, Ariz. (Phoenix C.C.) |
| 15 |
Callista Balko |
So. |
C/UTL |
Tucson, Ariz. (Canyon del Oro H.S.) |
| 17 |
Leslie Wolfe |
Sr. |
P |
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain H.S.) |
| 21 |
Kelly Nelson |
Sr. |
OF |
Lakewood, Calif. (Mayfair H.S.) |
| 24 |
Laine Roth |
Fr. |
1B |
Glendale, Ariz. (Deer Valley H.S.) |
| 26 |
Caitlin LoweAA1, AC1 |
Jr. |
CF |
Tustin, Calif. (Foothill H.S.) |
| 29 |
Kristie FoxAA1, AC1 |
Jr. |
SS |
San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel H.S.) |
| 31 |
Jenae Leles |
Fr. |
3B/2B |
Fair Oaks, Calif. (Rio Americano H.S.) |
| 33 |
Sam Banister |
Fr. |
3B/UTL |
Petaluma, Calif. (Petaluma H.S.) |
| 44 |
Alicia HollowellAA2, AC1 |
Sr. |
P |
Suisun, Calif. (Fairfield H.S.) |
|
|
|
|
|
| HC: |
Mike Candrea (21st season) |
|
|
|
| AC: |
Larry Ray (15th season) |
|
|
|
| AC: |
Nancy Evans (6th season) |
TUCSON REGIONAL
| Game 1 (May 18) |
(2) Arizona 9, Marist 0 |
Box Score |
| Game 2 (May 19) |
(2) Arizona 6, Ohio State 3 |
Box Score |
| Game 3 (May 20) |
(2) Arizona 4, Auburn 2 |
Box Score |
TUCSON SUPER REGIONAL
| Game 1 (May 26) |
(2) Arizona 5, (15) LSU 0 |
Box Score |
| Game 2 (May 27) |
(15) LSU 3, (2) Arizona 2 |
Box Score |
| Game 3 (May 27) |
(2) Arizona 14, (15) LSU 5 (5 innings) |
Box Score |
WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
| Game 1 (June 1) |
(2) Arizona 3, (7) Oregon State 2 (9 innings) |
Box Score |
| Game 2 (June 2) |
(2) Arizona 2, (3) Texas 0 |
Box Score |
| Game 3 (June 4) |
(8) Tennessee 1, (2) Arizona 0 |
Box Score |
| Game 4 (June 4) |
(2) Arizona 6, (8) Tennessee 0 |
Box Score |
| CHAMP1 (June 5) |
(2) Arizona 8, (4) Northwestern 0 |
Box Score |
| CHAMP2 (June 6) |
(2) Arizona 5, (4) Northwestern 0 |
Box Score |
