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OKLAHOMA CITY — After the Arizona Wildcats defeated Oklahoma on Saturday to advance to the Women's College World Series, Taryne Mowatt met a man who had produced the series for ESPN.

"I said, actually, 'I'm looking for a job,'" she said.

In her perfect world, the communications major would be a sideline reporter for the Worldwide Leader in Sports. She would be paired with Erin Andrews — "The Erin and Taryne Duo," Mowatt said — and call football, baseball and softball games.

Mowatt even planned on touring ESPN's trucks set up at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium during this week's WCWS.

That said, Mowatt does not want to have to look for work too early.

When the Wildcats (41-17) meet the UCLA Bruins (50-7) at 6 tonight, Mowatt could be pitching in her second-to-last collegiate game.

The same goes for the Bruins' Anjelica Selden, a senior who went 28-3 and posted an 0.98 ERA this season.

The Wildcats will begin the hunt for their third straight WCWS title. However, unlike the past two years, a No. 7 seed means Arizona is the underdog in the opener against second-seeded UCLA.

The teams are used to the spotlight, however. Only twice in the 26-year history of the WCWS has the championship game been played without Arizona or UCLA on the field. From 1988 to 1998, either UCLA or the UA won the national title.

"Back in the early '90s, it was a two-team race with Arizona and UCLA," UA interim coach Larry Ray said.

Although each team knows the opposing pitcher well over the past four years of conference play, the pitchers themselves are not that familiar with each other.

They first crossed paths during their junior years of high school, but Mowatt and the player who calls herself "Jelly" did not spend much time together.

"I don't know her personally," Selden said.

Mowatt was even recruited by UCLA but decided to attend Arizona because it was "where I wanted to go since I knew college existed." During the recruiting process, the Bruins signed Selden.

Selden, a native of Vacaville, Calif., was not recruited by the Wildcats but swears it never crosses her mind.

"I always wanted to come here," Selden said of UCLA. "It's never crossed my mind. I went to the school where I felt like I was supposed to be."

Mowatt and Selden are two of five pitchers — probably the best five in Oklahoma City — who are pitching in the last tournament of their careers.

Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher is probably the best pitcher in the country, and Arizona State's Katie Burkhart is likely the best left-hander. Texas A&M's Megan Gibson leads her team with an 0.98 ERA and 13 home runs.

"This is my last week here, and Katie's last week and Anjelica's last week," Mowatt said. "We all have something to prove."

There was a time when Mowatt wondered whether her college career would end in the Sooner State. During the season, frustrated by a new pitching coach and her own performance, Mowatt said she lost confidence. More than once, she wound up in tears

"I kinda felt, I would say, alone," she said.

Mowatt spoke with her parents, friends and childhood pitching coach Doug Finch. She realized the block was mental.

"I don't have to do it alone," she said. "I can do it with my friends, family. I realized that."

Contrast that with what happened Saturday. As Mowatt was getting ready to warm up at Hillenbrand Stadium, she got a text message from Mike Candrea, the UA head coach who is spending this season coaching the Olympic team.

Candrea told her that it was her time of year to shine, to do her job and take no prisoners.

"He told me to be an assassin," Mowatt said, with a smile.

She was. Maybe the ESPN cameras helped — she's always been comfortable there.

"I could live this life on camera," Mowatt said.

Anjelica Selden vs. Arizona: 6-2, 1.79 ERA, 1 save, 11 games, 50 2/3 IP

Taryne Mowatt vs. UCLA: 1-5, 5.03 ERA, 8 games, 39 IP