Wildcats take big bats, win streak to Texas A&M

They will face the seventh-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in a three-game series beginning today.

The Wildcats (7-5) take on the Aggies (5-2), who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, where they finished 37-21 and third place in the Southwest Conference. The Aggies are now affiliated with the Big 12 Conference, which is in its first year.

As a team last year, Texas A&M batted .337 with 66 home runs. Their weakness was pitching, they have a pitcher with an ERA less than 4.45.

"A&M is always tough," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "They're always tough at home. It's a real good challenge for us."

All nine hitters in the Wildcat's starting line up are sporting at least a .300 average, with two players batting over .400 and another two hitters close to that mark.

Junior shortstop Jake Thrower leads the way for the Wildcats. He set a new school record by getting a hit in 11 straight at-bats, and is leading the team with a .465 batting average. Thrower also leads the team in hits, walks and on-base percentage. Also having a strong showing at the plate is junior right fielder Colin Porter, who is riding an eight-game hitting streak, a team high, and hitting .409 overall.

He leads the Wildcats with his 16 runs and six doubles.

Leading the Aggies offensive attack is sophomore outfielder Jason Tyner, who hit .407 last season and recorded 41 stolen bases as the lead-off man. Infielder Jason Stephens, who led the team with 11 home runs and 79 RBI, is back for Texas A&M as well.

Arizona received a scare on Wednesday when junior center fielder Diego Rico and senior first baseman Jeff Gjerde were forced to leave the game due to injuries. Rico - who is hitting .386 and has a five-game RBI streak - fouled a pitch off his right shin in the sixth inning and could not remain in the game. Gjerde suffered a nerve injury in his hand which hurt too much to even squeeze a bat.

Both traveled with the team to Texas.

The Wildcats got some good news with the return of junior second baseman Erik Mattern. He has been cleared to play after starting the season with a mild case of mononucleosis.

He will not start today, but may see some action as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement, Stitt said.

The series should prove as a good test to see how Arizona handles playing on the road against a top-10 caliber program.

"We need to play well on the road because we start the (Pacific 10 Conference-Southern Division) season on the road," Stitt said. "We have to put things together and see how they go."

Arizona will send its trio of sophomore starters to the mound against the Aggies.

Right-hander Darrell Hussman (1-1) will start today, left-hander James Johnson (2-1) will go Saturday, and southpaw Rob Shabansky (2-1) gets the call for Sunday.