ERIC M. JUKELEVICS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman outfielder Jeff Van Houten readies for a pitch last weekend against Cal State Dominguez Hills at Sancet Field.

Arizona center fielder and closer Brian Anderson, who has been on the disabled list for four weeks, is scheduled to make the road trip this weekend against Long Beach State.

The sophomore sprained his knee is a stolen base attempt on Feb. 4 against Utah.

During his time on the DL, Anderson was on crutches and later wore a knee brace for two weeks. He dressed out in a Wildcat uniform for the first time last week and was retired twice at the plate in the Feb. 28 scrimmage against the Colorado Rockies.

"He's our three-hole hitter, our centerfielder and our closer," freshman Jeff Van Houten said. "He's a very valuable player to have."

Anderson was unavailable for comment because he was receiving treatment.

In the bottom of the first inning Sunday against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Van Houten singled up the middle to advance shortstop Brad Hassey from first to third.

Hassey was running on the play and was able to take an extra base thanks to Van Houten's hit as part of a perfectly executed "hit-and-run drive."

The Wildcats have two types of hit-and-run plays. The normal hit-and-run calls for the baserunner to steal and for the hitter to hit the ball in the infield hole created by a departed infielder who is covering a base.

The hit-and-run drive also opens with the runner leaving early, except the hitter tries to drive the ball deep, regardless of placement.

"It makes you not think about the pitch; you just react to where the pitch is," Van Houten said.

Van Houten has correctly executed the play two out of three times on the season, all part of Arizona's "early offense" approach.

In the opening three innings, UA engages in more of a free-swinging offense to expose the weakness of their opponent's defense. Arizona then switches to a run-manufacturing type of offense in the later innings.

"The first three you try and stretch the defense. You have more chances of getting hits, and it also forces the other team to play catch," Van Houten said.

Hassey, the everyday leadoff hitter, performs an interesting ritual before he settles into the batter's box in his first at-bat of a game.

The senior completely brushes away the chalk that outlines the box. The undefined box makes it easier for him to concentrate, Hassey said.

"I don't like seeing the lines while I'm hitting because some lines are off-centered, and they line you up wrong," he said.

Hassey started the routine during one of his many seasons playing in summer baseball leagues. To cut costs, the leagues usually have players chalk the lines, and they often perform a second-rate job.

Clearing the lines allows Hassey to get out of the box faster, and he sometimes draws cautionary words from the home-plate umpire.

"It also helps you on a push bunt so the umpire can't see you cross the line early," Hassey said. "I've had some umps say, 'Hey, leave me some line.'"