Arizona shortstop Kristie Fox is fascinated with the FBI and hopes to work undercover one day.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Other articles by Chris Davis:

Bandilla secures No. 3 spot despite loss to Oklahoma St. Cats don't let brawl affect bats Late rally can't make up for poor pitching Long night for Minutemen as UA bats light up New names shine as Cats complete sweep Late-season rally has Icecats hopeful for future Battered Wildcats swept by Georgia Veltmann's struggles continue as Cats drop 2nd game to UGA Guilmet struggles as Cats fall to Georgia Shootout heroics seal Cats' winning season

Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

Sometimes all a pitcher can do is hope.

Hope her curveball curves, hope the fastball is fast enough and that the batter cannot catch up to the riseball.

Arizona junior Kristie Fox is a big reason why they hope. Because when a pitch does not curve, is not fast enough or is a little too slow to rise, pitchers also have to hope Fox does not deposit it into the bleachers.

This scenario has played out time and again since her days at Mount Carmel High School in San Diego.

It is nothing personal, just habit. However, it took her a while to develop this habit.

"When I was younger I really loved defense," Fox said. "But my dad was my hitting coach, and as I grew up I started to enjoy hitting.

"I had all the mechanics; it was mostly just putting it all together."

For almost three seasons, Fox has done just that for the Wildcats. Last season, as a sophomore, she led the nation with 64 RBIs while hitting .356.

During her freshman season, Fox helped ease the pain of losing Olympian Lovie Jung, by hitting .320.

Coach Mike Candrea said Fox does not excel in just one area at the plate.

"She's a student of the game and a very active thinker at the plate," Candrea said. "But the biggest part is that she has great hand-eye coordination and is aggressive — she's going to take her cuts."

This season her contributions — she's hitting .393 with seven homers and 31 RBIs — have held even more weight as the third-ranked Wildcats (32-7, 3-4 Pac-10) have strived to find a level of consistency at the plate.

In the wake of a series split against rival Arizona State, and headed into this weekend's trip to the Bay Area, there is some hope that things are turning around.

"I'm swinging the bat well, though it's definitely not showing right now," she said. "But it's nice to know that I have teammates who can pick me up anytime, and I don't have to be the only one doing it."

But Fox's world does not solely revolve around a softball. Although she will not deny her love for the sport, there are other career goals that have piqued her interest. One is a fascination with the FBI.

Growing up watching television shows such as the "CSI" series, Fox became hooked and intends on bringing down bad guys for a living, once she is finished with pitchers.

"I like the idea of going undercover and playing someone else," Fox said. "It's like acting, only for the government. It's definitely something I want to pursue when I'm done with college and I'm done playing."

Right now, she will settle for wins over the No. 5 Cardinal and No. 6 Golden Bears this weekend.

Caitlin Lowe's return from a broken hand will give the offense a boost and in the Wildcats' 3-0 win over Arizona State on Saturday, Candrea said he saw some improvement.

"I thought for the first time we played with some competitiveness, some intensity and emotion," he said. "Hopefully that will carry out."

For Fox, Arizona's play at the plate has been somewhat of a mystery thus far, but she also realizes how close they could be to putting up some big offensive numbers, meaning she will have to keep hitting.

"There's been so many moments of greatness but then we have played down to the level of our opponent," she said. "We're either going to go up or down, but we could turn it around at any moment. One hit could turn into 10. That's what we need right now."