Other articles by Jamie M. Blanchard:

Salpointe takes 3 straight versus Mountain View Dedication of a Warrior UA mistakes help Ducks win their 2nd in Pac-10 Nighthawks' Chapman finds homer stroke against Rincon Relay champs on roll with lucky baton, record, title Creighton turns back Cats in 2nd game Badgers' Okonkwo hoping to end her stint on sidelines after injury Cats top Virginia Tech in 12 innings Young Wildcats find focus, win first 2 at home Foothills, with new coach, wants 3rd title in a row

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The showdown against New Mexico was worth the wait for Arizona's softball team.

After rain had postponed Friday's game, No. 5 Arizona (23-7) earned two mercy-rule victories over unranked New Mexico (7-12) on Saturday. The Wildcats took the first game 13-0 and the second 8-0.

"We've been just playing with teams lately, and you know, that's not what Arizona softball is about," said Kristie Fox, who had a home run in each game. "Arizona softball is about dominating, coming out and beating teams as hard as you can."

"It was good," UA coach Mike Candrea said. "Obviously, next week getting ready for Pac-10 play, the big thing is giving our bats some confidence. We had spurts of really swinging it well today. I'll take it right now."

Caitlin Lowe started the action for Arizona with a single in the first and stole second base to become No. 2 on the UA's career list with 134.

Chelsie Mesa also added a single before stealing second, and Fox followed with her first home run of the day to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Cats scored 10 runs in 14 at-bats. K'Lee Arredondo brought in designated runner Jill Malina, and Adrienne Acton plated Callista Balko.

A double from Mesa scored Laine Roth, and then Arredondo and Acton to put the Wildcats up 8-0. After Mesa scored on a single from Balko, Fox crossed the plate on a passed ball.

Jenae Lelas then hit a three-run homer to center, bringing in Sarah Akamine and Balko to put the Wildcats up 13-0.

After another scoreless inning for the Lobos, the game ended by mercy rule.

"I'm excited about (Saturday's) performance because I think we put a lot of good things together," said pitcher Taryne Mowatt, who gave up one hit in the first game and improved her record to 16-6.

It was more of the same in the second game.

After scoring twice in the first, three home runs in the third helped the Wildcats score six runs. Mesa and Fox hit back-to-back homers to lead off the sixth, and Sam Banister hit a grand slam to left field to extend the lead to 8-0.

"That was good," Candrea said. "It's a sign of what we can do."

Akamine, who gave up three hits, pitched the second game from start to finish for the first time and is 7-1.

"Finally. I hadn't finished one yet," she said. "Taryne always has to come in and, you know, be my hero and back me up. Finally."