Arizona hosts rival Arizona State for senior weekend at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. All three games are on the Pac-12 Network.
The Wildcats (28-22, 5-13) are trying to shake a tailspin that has seen them fall into last place in the conference standings. The Sun Devils (42-7, 13-5) will be looking to gain ground on Pac-12 leader Oregon (42-7, 15-3).
Arizona has only one senior on this year's roster, shortstop Brigette Del Ponte, who has started 228 of 234 games during her four years on campus. She ranks seventh on Arizona's all-time list for home runs (58) and ninth in doubles (50) and RBI (223).
ASU has swept Arizona in each of the past two seasons. The Sun Devils were 1-32 all-time at Hillenbrand Stadium before sweeping three games from the Wildcats in their most recent visit there in 2011.
Despite their struggles, Arizona has managed an 18-6 home record this season. But the Wildcats enter the series on a down note, having beeb run-ruled three times in their last eight games.
ASU swept California by a combined score of 26-5 in three games last week. Cheyenne Coyle, who leads the conference with 57 runs scored and ranks second with 17 home runs, was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after hitting .714 in the three games. Teammate Amber Freeman is ranked among the conference's top three in home runs (16) and RBI (56). As a team, ASU leads the conference in home runs (84), batting average (.347), slugging percentage (.605) and on-base percentage (.436).
Dallas Escobedo is 24-4 with a 2.16 ERA and a Pac-12 leading 266 strikeouts for the Sun Devils, while Mackenzie Popescue is 17-3 with a 1.64 ERA. Arizona's top pitcher, Shelby Babcock, is 15-9 with a 3.33 ERA.
