| Arizona Wildcats softball |
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| Founded | 1974 |
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| University | University of Arizona |
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| Athletic director | Dave Heeke |
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| Head coach | Caitlin Lowe-Nagy (2nd season) |
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| Conference | Pac-12 |
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| Location | Tucson, Arizona |
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| Home stadium | Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 2,956) |
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| Nickname | Wildcats |
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| Colors | Cardinal and navy[1]
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| 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007 |
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| 1992, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2010 |
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| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
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| 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979[2] |
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| 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
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| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
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| 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2017 |
The Arizona Wildcats softball team represents the University of Arizona in NCAA Division I Softball. Having claimed eight national championships (second only to UCLA), the team is one of the most successful in the history of the sport. It plays its home games at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, AZ. The team was formerly coached by Mike Candrea, who began his UA coaching career in 1986 and announced his retirement on June 8, 2021. He retired as the all time winningest coach in Collegiate softball history with 1,674 wins, more Collegiate national titles with 8 and the fourth most wins of any coach in any NCAA sport.
[3]
History
1974 to 1985
The Arizona Wildcats officially began softball play in 1974 under head coach Judy Spray in the Intermountain Conference. The first team in the school's history went 11–3 and participated in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Women's College World Series (WCWS). The AIAW and Amateur Softball Association[2] co-sponsored the Women's College World Series through 1982 (the NCAA held a separate tournament in 1982 when it began organizing women's softball). The 1975 team also played in the WCWS. In 1977, the Wildcats finished second in the WCWS, just missing out on winning the tournament. In 1979, the team once again qualified for the WCWS. However, after the 1979 season, the Wildcats failed to make the postseason again until 1987. From 1981 to 1986, the Wildcats were members of the Western Collegiate Athletic Association (WCAA), which renamed itself the Pacific West Conference (PacWest; not to be confused with the current NCAA Division II conference) for its final season.[4] The WCAA/PacWest folded after the 1986 season when the then-Pac-10, home to all five of the final PacWest members, began sponsoring women's sports.
Mike Candrea era (1986-2021)
Mike Candrea was hired for the 1986 season to build the Wildcats program. In his first season, the Wildcats won 29 games and missed out on the postseason. However, in 1987, Arizona won 42 games and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since the NCAA began sponsoring the sport. In 1988, Candrea guided the Wildcats to 54 wins and an appearance in the Women's College World Series where the team finished tied for third place. From 1988 to 2003, the Wildcats made sixteen straight appearances in the Women's College World Series. Arizona's first national championship season came in 1991. The Wildcats went 56–16 that year. In 1992, the Wildcats won the school's first Pac-10 title and finished runner-up at the Women's College World Series. The Wildcats continued their hot streak throughout the 1990s winning national championships in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. The 1994 team went 64–3 and was ranked #1 throughout the year. Arizona also claimed the Pac-10 championship in 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998. The Wildcats experienced continued success in the 2000s winning another national title in 2001 after finishing that year 65–4. The Wildcats won the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 conference titles. Candrea left Arizona to coach the USA National team in the 2004 Olympics, and Larry Ray was named the interim coach for the 2004 season. The 2004 team won 55 games but lost to the Oklahoma Sooners in the Regionals, which marked the first time since 1987 that the Wildcats did not make it to the Women's College World Series. Candrea returned in 2005, and the Wildcats again returned to Oklahoma City for the World Series. The 2006 Arizona team defeated the Northwestern Wildcats to capture the Wildcats' seventh national title and their first since 2001. The 2007 Wildcats repeated as national champions by defeating the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in the championship series after losing the opening game of the series. Larry Ray again was tagged the interim coach in 2008 when Candrea coached the U.S. National Team at the 2008 Olympics. The 2008 team again made it to the Women's College World Series finishing tied for seventh in the eight team field. The Wildcats participated in the World Series in both 2009 and 2010 finishing tied for seventh and second respectively.[5] In 2011, the Wildcats were eliminated in the NCAA Super Regional play by the Oklahoma Sooners.[6]
Caitlin Lowe-Nagy era (2022-present)
Following the retirement of former head coach Mike Candrea, Lowe–Nagy was announced as the next head coach of the Arizona Wildcats softball program. Lowe–Nagy spent the last nine seasons under Candrea following a professional player with the USSSA Pride and internationally with Team USA, winning Silver Medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics. She also was a former player under Candrea, playing from 2004–2007 & had one of the most decorated careers of any player in Arizona history. A two-time national champion in 2006 & 2007, as well as numerous Arizona records such as: second in batting average (.446), fourth in hits (351), fourth in triples (12), seventh in runs scored (242) and first in stolen bases (156). She was unanimously named the greatest centerfielder of all time, both by a fan vote and by the 7Innings Podcast crew in its Greatest Softball Team of All-Time. Lowe–Nagy is one of only six Wildcat players to be named an NFCA All-American in each of her four years with the program and joined Leah Braatz (1994, 95, 97, 98) as the only player in Arizona history to be awarded first-team All-America all four years.[7]
Wildcats of note
| Name
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Seasons as Wildcat
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Position
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Accomplishment
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| Leah Braatz
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1994–98
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Catcher
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Four Time 1st Team All American, Two Time National Champion (1994, 1996)
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| Jenny Dalton
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1993–96
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2nd Base
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All-Time NCAA Career RBI (328) leader, Single Season Runs Scored (101) leader, Three Time 1st Team All American, Three Time National Champion (1993, 1994, 1996)
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| Laura Espinoza
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1992–95
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Shortstop
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All-Time NCAA Single Season Home Run (37), RBI (128) & Total Bases (232) Record, Two Time 1st Team All American, Two Time National Champion (1993, 1994)
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| Nancy Evans
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1994–98
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Pitcher
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NCAA Highest Career (Min 75 decisions) Winning Percentage (.939, 124−8), Two Time 1st Team All American, Three Time National Champion (1994, 1996, 1997)
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| Jennie Finch
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1999–02
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Pitcher
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NCAA Consecutive Victory Record (60), Perfect Season Record (32−0), Three Time 1st Team All American, Olympic Gold Medal (2004), National Champion (2001)
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| Alicia Hollowell
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2003–06
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Pitcher
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All Time Arizona Wins Leader (144), 17 Career No−Hitters, 4 Perfect Games, Two Time 1st Team All American, Olympic Silver Medal (2008), National Champion (2006)
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| Brittany Lastrapes
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2008–11
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Outfield
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Three Time 1st Team All American
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| Caitlin Lowe
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2004–07
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Centerfield
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Arizona All Time Steals Leader (156), Committed 0 Errors (234 Games), Four Time 1st Team All American, Olympic Silver Medal (2008), Two Time National Champion (2006, 2007)
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| Alison McCutcheon
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1995–98
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Outfield
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Three Time 1st Team All American, All-Time NCAA Single Season (132) & Career Hits (405) leader, Two Time National Champion (1996, 1997)
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| Leah O'Brien
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1993–97
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Centerfield
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Three Time 1st Team All American, Three Time National Champion (1993, 1994, 1997), Olympic Gold Medal (1996, 2000, 2004)
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National awards
Honda Softball Award
USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year
- 2009 Jennie Finch
- 2015 Kellie Fox
- 2015 Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza (Junior Athlete of the Year)
ESPY Award
- 2007 Taryne Mowatt - Best Female Athlete, Best Female College Athlete
Lowe's Senior Class Award
NFCA Golden Shoe Award
NFCA Catcher of the Year
Coach of the Year
- 1986 Mike Candrea, Pacific-West co-honor
- 1987 Mike Candrea, Pac-10
- 1988 Mike Candrea, Northwest Region, Pac-10
- 1994 Mike Candrea, NSCA Div. I, National Coach of the Year, Pacific Region, Pac-10
- 1995 Mike Candrea, Pacific Region
- 1996 Mike Candrea, Speedline/NFCA Division I, National Coach of the Year
- 1997 Mike Candrea, Speedline/NFCA Division I, National Coach of the Year, Pac-10, Pacific-Region
- 1998 Mike Candrea, Pac-10
- 2000 Mike Candrea, Pac-10 co-honor
- 2001 Mike Candrea, Pac-10 co-honor
- 2002 Mike Candrea, Pac-10
- 2003 Mike Candrea, Pac-10
- 2007 Mike Candrea, Pac-10 Staff, NFCA Division I
- 2017 Mike Candrea, Pac-12 Staff, NFCA West Region
Conference awards
Pac-10 Conference Medal
Pac-12 Player of the Year
- 1994 Susie Parra
- 1995 Laura Espinoza
- 1996 Jenny Dalton
- 1997 Alison McCutcheon
- 1998 Alison McCutcheon
- 2005 Caitlin Lowe
- 2017 Katiyana Mauga
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans[9]
- 1984 Kathy Jo Lanford
- 1985 Lisa Bernstein
- 1985 Kathy Jo Lanford
- 1986 Lisa Bernstein
- 1994 Leah O'Brien
- 1995 Jenny Dalton
- 1995 Leah O'Brien
- 1996 Jenny Dalton
- 1997 Leah O'Brien
- 1998 Nancy Evans
- 2004 Wendy Allen
- 2006 Autumn Champion
- 2010 K'Lee Arredondo
- 2019 Tamara Statman
All-Americans
Arizona has had 109 All-Americans, 64 of which have been First-Team.[10]
All-Time Statistical leaders
Batting Average, Career (225 AB)
| Name
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Years
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Batting Average
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| Alison McCutcheon
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1997–98
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.466†
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| Caitlin Lowe
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2004–07
|
.446
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| Leah O'Brien
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1993–97
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.428
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| Brittany Lastrapes
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2008–11
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.417
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| Autumn Champion
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2003–06
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.417
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Hits, Career
| Name
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Years
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Hits
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| Alison McCutcheon
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1995–98
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405†‡
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| Amy Chellevold
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1992–95
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371
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| Nicole Giordano
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1998–01
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359
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| Caitlin Lowe
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2004–07
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351
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| Lauren Bauer
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1998–01
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349
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Home Runs, Career
| Name
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Years
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Home Runs
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| Kaityana Mauga
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2014–17
|
92†
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| Jessie Harper
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2017–present
|
92†
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| Stacie Chambers
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2008–11
|
87
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| Laura Espinoza
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1992–95
|
85
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| Leah Braatz
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1994–98
|
85
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Runs Batted In, Career
| Name
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Years
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RBI
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| Jenny Dalton
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1993–96
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328†‡
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| Leah Braatz
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1994–98
|
322
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| Laura Espinoza
|
1992–95
|
314
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| Stacie Chambers
|
2008–11
|
293
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| Kaityana Mauga
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2014–17
|
257
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Runs Scored, Career
| Name
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Years
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Runs
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| Jenny Dalton
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1993–96
|
293†
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| Alison McCutcheon
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1995–98
|
289
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| Brittany Lastrapes
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2008–11
|
253
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| Amy Chellevold
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1992–95
|
252
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| Leah Braatz
|
1994–98
|
250
|
Stolen Bases, Career
| Name
|
Years
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Stolen Bases
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| Caitlin Lowe
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2004–07
|
156
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| Alison McCutcheon
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1995–98
|
148
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| Lauren Bauer
|
1998–01
|
133
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| Vivian Holm
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1987–90
|
129
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| Amy Chellevold
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1992–95
|
113
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Walks, Career
| Name
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Years
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Walks
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| Jenny Dalton
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1993–96
|
178
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| Leah Braatz
|
1994–98
|
173
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| Stacie Chambers
|
2008–11
|
158
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| Kaityana Mauga
|
2014–17
|
158
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| Brittany Lastrapes
|
2008–11
|
137
|
Games Played, Career
| Name
|
Years
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Walks
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| Julie Standering
|
1988–91
|
277
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| Toni Mascarenas
|
1998–01
|
276
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| Leah Braatz
|
1994–98
|
271
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| Nancy Evans
|
1994–98
|
271
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| Jennie Finch
|
1999–02
|
270
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Earned Run Average, Career
| Name
|
Years
|
ERA
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| Debbie Day
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1991–92
|
0.44
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| Susie Parra
|
1991–94
|
0.63
|
| Pam Stone
|
1982–84
|
0.73
|
| Ginnie Scheller
|
1987–90
|
0.81
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| Julie Jones
|
1987–90
|
0.85
|
Victories, Career
| Name
|
Years
|
W–L
|
| Alicia Hollowell
|
2003–06
|
144–23
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| Nancy Evans
|
1994–98
|
124–8
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| Jennie Finch
|
1999–02
|
119–16
|
| Carrie Dolan
|
1994–97
|
103–13
|
| Becky Lemke
|
1998–01
|
103–19
|
Strikeouts, Career
| Name
|
Years
|
Strikeouts
|
| Alicia Hollowell
|
2003–06
|
1,768
|
| Taryne Mowatt
|
2005–08
|
1,267
|
| Jennie Finch
|
1999–02
|
1,028
|
| Becky Lemke
|
1998–01
|
916
|
| Susie Parra
|
1991–94
|
874
|
Career Shutouts(Solo/Combined)
| Name
|
Years
|
Shutouts
|
| Alicia Hollowell
|
2003–06
|
81/8
|
| Jennie Finch
|
1999–02
|
64/7
|
| Susie Parra
|
1991–94
|
61/1
|
| Nancy Evans
|
1994–98
|
53/2
|
| Becky Lemke
|
1998–01
|
44/9
|
Career No-Hitters(Solo/Combined
| Name
|
Years
|
No-Hitters
|
| Alicia Hollowell
|
2003–06
|
16/1
|
| Susie Parra
|
1991–94
|
8
|
| Jennie Finch
|
1999–02
|
8
|
| Taryne Mowatt
|
2005–08
|
6/1
|
| Debbie Day
|
1991–92
|
6
|
† indicates Pac-12 record
‡ indicates NCAA record
2023 Arizona Wildcats Softball team
