ASU senior awaits final shot at Wildcats

Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat UA outfielder Colin Porter (20) gets ready to take a swing at ASU during a series earlier this month. Arizona meets up with Arizona State again beginning tonight in Tempe at 7.

It wasn't when the No. 10 Sun Devils came to town and swept Arizona at Sancet Field earlier this month, though.

"I think it all started the week before against Cal when we came back from four down in the ninth to win 7-6," Moreno said.

Since then, Moreno and his Sun Devils (31-14 overall, 17-6 Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) have won 11 in a row, 15 of their last 17 and 12 straight in conference play. They host a three-game series against Arizona (29-20, 9-15 Six-Pac) starting tonight in Tempe at 7 p.m.

"We played all our tough games early," Moreno said. "I think that got us prepared for this stretch of the season."

Moreno is one of five seniors on the ASU roster. Although he has been facing Arizona for four years, he said playing the Wildcats doesn't mean more to him than playing other teams.

"I get fired up for any game, especially in the Six-Pac," he said.

Last time against Arizona, Moreno got fired up in the batter's box, ripping four hits, including a home run, and scoring five times against UA in ASU's 20-12 blow-out win April 4.

Moreno is hitting .340 with 39 RBI, 54 runs scored and 14 stolen bases on the season.

Cooling off Moreno and the Sun Devils won't be easy, said UA senior right fielder Colin Porter.

"It's going to be tough," he said. "But it's not impossible."

Arizona comes into the series after winning one of three games from top-ranked Stanford in Tucson. The Wildcats need to win six-straight road games to finish at .500 in the Six-Pac in order to receive an invitation to Regionals in May.

The Sun Devils are currently tied with Stanford for first place in the Six-Pac, and the series with Arizona marks their Six-Pac home finale.

"It's my last Six-Pac home series, but I'm not sentimental about it," Moreno said. "I just don't get that way. Besides, we've got another home series (against Furman) left."