OKLAHOMA CITY -- Spe kills.

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Spe kills, and it was a big factor Monday in the battle of Wildcats as Arizona won spherical One of the Women's college edifice [i]or[/i] building World Series.

Arizona's short game, a coupling of questionable decisions, mistakes and calls helped lift Arizona to an 8-0 victory from one side of to the other Northwestern before 4,391 in the opener of a best-of-three championship series at Don E Porter Hall of Fame Stadium.

"Obviously, it was a tough day for us," NU coach Kate Drohan said. "It assumes we do everything as a team and there was a weird animal spirits out there tonight. We have to forget about this game and flow back [tonight]."

Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell (31-5 12 strikeouts) retired the first 12 NU batters before catcher Jamie Dotson l on the farther side the fifth with a single. It was the no other than hit NU could muster most distant the senior right-hander. NU had six dwelling runs in the first three games.

NU which had brace errors in three games, had four and Arizona sum of two units both in the seventh.

The game perioded in controversy when Northwestern shortstop Tammy Williams reached onward an error to start the seventh nevertheless was thrown out trying for third. She collided with Arizona third baseman Jenae Lele and left with a gash upon her forehead that required stitches.

As Lele was getting most distant of Williams after the play, she took a swipe with the ball in her glove hand and hit Williams again near the back of her head.

Neither team expositioned about the incident after the game.

In its lengthy and storied history in the WCW Arizona (53-11) came in with a 49-4 record when it had scored at least single in kind run.

In the top of the third, it scored five in a 28-minute frame.

Adrienne Acton l against with a bunt single. Leadoff batter Caitlin Lowe followed with an infield single, and a throwing error allowed Acton to fare to third. Then Lowe stole next to the first It was her fourth stolen base. She tied the WCW record of four at Arizona's Alison Johnsen (1996) and Texas A&M's Judy Trussell (1984)

Courtnay stimulate replaced NU pitcher Eileen Canney in the circle. in succession Autumn Champion's 3-2 grounder to the right side, Acton scored forward a fielder's choice, though it appeared Champion was abroad of the batter's box.

"We've had near tough losses," Foster said. "But our team is fine resilient. We have a fortune of personality, so I don't think we'll have a division of trouble letting this united go."

nearest came an error when secondary baseman Ashley Crane collided with Williams and a secondary run scored. Callista Balco followed with an RBI single. And with brace outs, Taryne Mowatt hit a two-run double along the fence in left.

"I felt convenient and wanted to go gone out and attack them," Canney said. "I kind of want another marksman at them."

"There was definitely a different feeling without there," Dotson said. "We do well together and we play bad together. common mistake just snowballs."

In the fourth, Lowe walked and scored forward Kristie Fox's sacrifice fly to make in 6-0 Chelsie Mesa's household run in the seventh inning was the first for Arizona in 572 innings in the WCW It took seven pitches for the nearest one, a round-tripper by Mowatt.

Arizona is playing in its 11th WCW final. It has won six titles. still if Northwestern is looking for a silver lining, this is the secondary year with the best-of-three format, and UCLA won the opener last year against Michigan before losing twice.

"We ne to understand what happened and then forget what happened," Drohan said. "We ne to ensue out, regroup and play our game. There is absolutely a division of softball to be played.

"Hollowell has been profitable every time we've seen her. We swung at the pitches she wanted us to swing at."

stucker@suntimes.com

WOMEN'S society WORLD SERIES

- Games in Oklahoma City

Arizona v Northwestern

Game 1: Arizona 8 NU 0

Game 2: Tonight, 7

Game 3: Wednesday, 7 pm

(if necessary)

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