With a squinted glare and a 3-inch scar on her right elbow, Kristie Fox belongs in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Call it "The Intimidator."
Fox leads the UA softball team in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and scowls.
"We call it her game face," center fielder Caitlin Lowe said. "I remember playing her (in high school) and being like, 'I really don't like her. I really don't like playing against her.'"
Entering tonight's home game against No. 9 Arizona State, the senior's squinted scowl is masking something more serious.
Her elbow is killing her.
Fox had ulnar nerve transposition surgery after her sophomore year. During the surgery, a doctor moved the nerve that ran through her elbow into a new tunnel, relieving pressure.
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The surgery went well, but Fox suspects scar tissue is causing the pain.
"And I think I still have tendinitis," she said.
The injury was serious enough to move Fox from shortstop — her natural position — for three weeks last month. In the middle of a March 2 game against Missouri, Fox moved to second base. She served as designated player seven times and second baseman six times before returning to shortstop on March 24.
"I'm definitely gonna stay at shortstop," she said.
Fox now monitors her throws and swings in each practice, trying to protect the elbow.
"People look at it more defensively," Candrea said. "But offensively, too — I've had the elbow surgery that she's had. It's really tough sometimes to be able to get that top hand where you want it."
Fox did a good enough job Sunday at UCLA, launching a three-run home run over the Easton Stadium scoreboard in an 11-2 victory. Fox has 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .692 slugging percentage.
"I don't care if the fans or people know that I might be injured," she said, "but I definitely don't want the other team to know how I'm feeling.
"You go out there and forget about everything else. You forget about the pain."
The No. 6 Wildcats (26-8, 2-1) have never lost to the Sun Devils (36-8, 2-1) at Hillenbrand Stadium, going 24-0 since the park opened in 1993.
This year's team might be the best ASU has fielded during that span.
Fox is already fired up.
"It's probably one of the only times that we have people cheering against us at our home field," she said. "For me, that personally pumps me up.
"I just wanna shove it right back in their face."
Today
• What: No. 6 Arizona (26-8, 2-1) vs. No. 9 Arizona State (36-8, 2-1)
• When: 7 p.m.
• Likely pitchers: Arizona's Taryne Mowatt (19-7, 1.77 ERA) vs. ASU's Katie Burkhart (18-6, 0.94 ERA)
