Itβs difficult for anyone to pinpoint the Arizona softball teamβs current issues.
The No. 9 Wildcats (14-5, 0-2) have lost five of their last seven games and return home this week for a three-game series against Oregon State (13-7, 2-1) looking to fix whatever might be broken.
Last week, before two losses to No. 6 Washington, shortstop Jessie Harper said the hitters were placing too much pressure on themselves. This week, catcher Dejah Mulipola pointed to a dip in confidence.
Coach Mike Candrea blamed distractions.
βI donβt know exactly where their minds are right now,β Candrea said. βI think theyβre embracing the opportunity to play again. Itβs just not coming (along) as quickly as we thought it would.β
That is surprising, even to those within the program. Arizona left Tucson earlier this month, averaging two home runs per game with eight out of 10 wins ending by mercy rule. In the last five games, that powerful lineup has mustered just two homers and six total runs.
βOur confidence is a little bit down, because weβre not getting the results that we want,β Mulipola said.
The opposing pitchers have gotten tougher, too.
Central Floridaβs Giana Mancha, who shut out the Wildcats in Orlando, has allowed nine runs in her last four outings and the Florida State duo of Kathryn Sandercock and Caylan Arnold, who combined for another shutout against Arizona, have recorded five losses this year. However, thereβs no doubting the excellence of Washingtonβs First-Team All-American Gabby Plain, who is 13-0 with two complete-game victories over the Wildcats.
Still, Arizona is expected to topple giants. After all, the players say the expectations are to always make the Womenβs College World Series.
βOne thing coach always says is, βPressure is a privilege,ββ Mulipola said. βAnd Iβve actually caught myself, in game, saying that to myself, maybe when thereβs runners on and I am coming up to bat with two outs. Thatβs a lot of pressure, and I just slow it down.β
Thatβs easy to do for a United States Olympic Team with 200 college games under her belt.
It can be much more difficult for players with less experience.
Thatβs why at the end of explaining all the distractions, everything from COVID-19 to no fans in the stands making games seem like practice, Candrea threw his hands up. Narrowing the gap between them, he emphasized the importance of simply ignoring everything else and βplaying the game.β
Heβs tinkered with the lineup, moving players around or giving them time off. But with 16 runners left on base in the last three games, the message isnβt working.
βIβm not just sitting back and letting them try to figure it out, believe me,β Candrea said. βThatβs my job, is to try to figure out what buttons to press. Weβve made some lineup changes, sometimes just to give them a mental break. But itβs not an exact science.β
Still, Arizonaβs pitching and defense have inspired hope, as the team has yet to lose a game by more than two runs.
βWeβve been in every ballgame that weβve lost, and it could have gone either way,β Candrea said. βSo Iβm not hitting the panic button.β
