By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Inclement weather caused the Arizona baseball team and Texas A&M to play to a rare tie Sunday afternoon.
The two teams were knotted 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh when the skies opened up, causing the game's second rain delay. The first, a 45-minute stoppage, may have been what enabled A&M to tie the game in the first place.
UA starter Ryan Frace was holding on to a 3-1 lead after the first stoppage but allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
"Ryan pitched extremely well ... the rain delay killed him," UA coach Jerry Kindall said. "It was a good trip, it was a useful trip. We played good ball despite the two losses and one tie."
Arizona (10-10-1) returns to the diamond for a two-game series against New Mexico State starting at 2:30 p.m. today at Sancet Field.
Menno Wickey and Jeff Gjerde did the offensive tag-team work for the Wildcats Sunday. Wickey hit his third home run of the year on a two-run shot. Gjerde got credit for the RBI in the first inning.
"Menno has really picked up the pace for us, which is very hopeful because he's our key veteran," Kindall said.
Kindall said Pat McMillin's relief performance last Friday earned him the start against Arizona State this Friday afternoon at Sancet Field.
But before the Wildcats can begin to think about the Sun Devils, they must first get by New Mexico State.
The Aggies (10-4) return four pitchers and five everyday players from their '94 squad.
"They've improved every year since their present coach Elliot Avent came in," Kindall said. "Every year they seem to have a better squad."
Clay Crossan (1-0) will get the start for the Wildcats.