KRISTIN ELVES/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman Jeff Van Houten avoids an inside pitch last month against New Mexico State at Sancet Field. The Wildcats begin Pac-10 play tonight at 7 against ASU at Sancet Field.

Arizona opens its Pacific 10 Conference schedule tonight against No. 15 Arizona State in a rivalry matchup that's more important than usual.

It serves both as an opportunity for each team to jump out to an early conference lead and also to claim state bragging rights for the next year.

ASU has won seven of the last nine between the two schools, a fact that is not lost on Arizona's players.

"We should take this game just like every other Pac-10 game, but obviously it's a little more intense because it's ASU," sophomore center fielder Brian Anderson said. "You try not to carry any excess baggage through the game; if you win the first game, it will give you momentum throughout the series. Taking two out of three or sweeping the series is real big throughout the year."

UA comes into the game with a 19-8 record that includes series victories over Southern Utah, New Mexico State and California State Dominguez Hills, but the Wildcats have a dismal road record of 1-6. The six losses came in two series sweeps by Texas A&M and Long Beach State, their two best opponents of the year.

"We just didn't play well - we didn't hit, we didn't play defense, we didn't pitch. We could have done a better job," right fielder Jeff Van Houten said.

The freshman leads UA with a .648 slugging percentage and is tied for the lead with six home runs. He said he is ready to face better opponents in the Pac-10.

"It's going to be a lot tougher; we've got more ranked teams and we're playing rivals, so it should be a lot of fun," Van Houten said.

ASU (16-8) has made it through a gauntlet of tough opponents, including Tennessee, Florida State, California State Fullerton and Oklahoma. The Sun Devils went 4-7 through that stretch.

Second baseman Steve Garrabrants is ASU's co-leader with a .375 batting average, but has missed the last five games with a shoulder injury.

Tonight, Mike Esposito (4-3, 2.79 ERA) will make his eighth start of the year. He anchors a pitching staff with a collective 3.33 ERA this season.

Arizona will counter with its ace, sophomore Sean Rierson (4-2, 3.35 ERA), who is looking to make a statement about the new Andy Lopez era.

"In the past, ASU has done better against us, and it's time for us to turn it around and the whole program," Rierson said. "That's why Lopez is here."

In his third series since coming off of the disabled list, Anderson has immediately made an impact.

He has hit .333 with a two home runs - one was a grand slam - two doubles and eight RBIs, and also he earned his second save in his closer role.

"It was so frustrating sitting on the bench and not being able to play, but now that I'm healthy, it's a lot better," Anderson said. "Sometimes you take it for granted, and then you get hurt and you miss (the game) so much."

Tomorrow, UA sophomore Joe Little (5-1, 4.47) will take the hill against Robbie McClellan (5-2, 2.90) and on Sunday, sophomore Marc Kaiser (4-1, 2.50) will close out the series against ASU's Bryce Kartler (2-1, 3.57).

Tonight's game starts at 7. The weekend games both start at 1 p.m., all at Sancet Field.