Arizona softball: 'Long day,' long season ends

Arizona's Brigette Del Ponte, left, celebrates with Chelsea Suitos after making a double play in the third inning of Arizona's elimination-game win against Penn.

Arizona softball: 'Long day,' long season ends

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - In the end, the Arizona Wildcats were bounced from the NCAA tournament regional for the same reason they were sent to the Brazos Valley here as the third-highest team in their own pod: because they weren't good enough.

NCAA softball tournament: Baylor 7, Arizona 0: Deep in a hole in Texas

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - After losing a regional game for the first time in nine years and putting the season on life support with a 7-0 loss to Baylor, Mike Candrea gathered the Arizona Wildcats on Friday and asked them a question:

Arizona softball: Babcock: 'I'm going to pitch'

Pitcher Shelby Babcock was in a hospital Monday with the "flu - and some other stuff"; on Tuesday she was back at the ballpark.

Arizona softball: Babcock: 'I'm going to pitch'

Former Sunnyside High School star Estela Piñon will likely be called on out of the bullpen, especially if the Cats play five times in three days.

Arizona softball: Babcock: 'I'm going to pitch'

Around 9:30 Tuesday morning, Shelby Babcock reported to Arizona Wildcats practice, looking as she always had, in a gray T-shirt and red shorts, and declaring herself ready to pitch.

Arizona softball: Bruins' 7 homers give Cats whiplash

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Arizona softball: Bruins' 7 homers give Cats whiplash

Ball after ball sailed over the Hillenbrand Stadium fence Friday night, like circus performers out of a cannon.

Arizona softball: Always-nervous Bowling finding calm through breathing, journal

Nancy Bowling has a nervous stomach.

Arizona softball: Piñon gets call, saves day as UA wins twice

Arizona softball

Arizona softball: Piñon gets call, saves day as UA wins twice

As expected, the Arizona Wildcats' new pitcher dominated Friday night in her first-ever home softball game at Hillenbrand Stadium.

Arizona softball: Prized freshman hurler debuts today for Cats

Freshman pitcher Nancy Bowling missed Arizona's opening weekend of games after suffering a concussion on Feb. 2.

Arizona softball: Prized freshman hurler debuts today for Cats

Two days after being hit with a line drive near her left eye - with a seam imprint to prove it - and being released by the hospital, presumably fine, Nancy Bowling sat in a Feb. 4 study hall.