By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 24, 1998

UA gets break from Six-Pac play

Returning home after a tough road trip is always nice.

Returning home to play against a team like Southern Utah is even nicer.

After taking only one of three games from second-ranked Southern Cal in Los Angeles over the weekend, the Arizona baseball team (17-2 overall, 1-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) is back at Sancet Field today and tomorrow at 3 p.m. for a two-game set with the Thunderbirds (4-6).

UA head coach Jerry Stitt said he will use this non-conference series to get set for this weekend's matchup with Six-Pac foe California.

"The one thing they (Southern Cal) did better than us was execute (plays)," Stitt said, citing that as the reason Arizona lost two of three. "We swung the bats well, we pitched well, but we just didn't execute."

Despite UA's two losses at Southern Cal, Stitt said his team has not lost any confidence.

"We competed well with them," Stitt said. "In my mind and in the mind of the players, we can compete with anyone in the country."

That shouldn't be a problem against the Thunderbirds, who lost to Arizona twice last year 20-6 and 3-2 in Tucson.

Southern Utah comes into this afternoon's game after winning one of three against in-state rival Utah.

The Thunderbirds are led by right fielder Jake Petersen (.323 average, four home runs, six RBI) and left fielder Brian Kruse (.313-2-6) at the plate.

The pitching, though, hasn't been there for the Thunderbirds this season. They have an 8.66 ERA as a team, with starter Nick Roberts (3-0, 6.75) and closer Kyle Kimoto (3 saves, 0.00 ERA) putting up the only decent numbers on their staff.

Eighth-ranked Arizona defeated the Trojans (10-3, 2-1) Sunday, 3-2, avoiding a sweep in the first Six-Pac series of the year for both teams.

Stitt was impressed by the performances of the Wildcats who took the mound at Dedeaux Field.

"Our pitchers pitched very well," Stitt said. "(Junior Darrell) Hussman pitched well (Friday) into the seventh (inning). Then he got tired and started leaving the ball up in the zone."

Hussman (2-1) lost Friday's game, 10-3.

"(Junior Rob) Shabansky pitched great," Stitt said. "We just didn't get him enough support."

Shabansky (5-1) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday but ultimately lost, 4-1.

Since both Hussman and Shabansky will be kept on the bench until this weekend's series with Cal, Stitt has tentatively penciled in sophomore Tony Milo (4-0) for today and sophomore Dave Abbott (1-0) for tomorrow's game.

Once Southern Utah is out of town, the Wildcats get a day off before the Golden Bears arrive for a 3 p.m. game Friday, followed by 1 p.m. contests Saturday and Sunday.

Baseball America Top 25

   Team		       Record
1. Stanford		13-0  
2. Southern California	10-3  
3. Miami		10-3  
4. Florida		7-3  
5. Alabama		8-0  
6. Arizona State	12-3  
7. Louisiana State	4-3  
8. Arizona	       17-2  
9. Rice		        8-4 
10. Auburn		7-2 
11. Baylor		8-3 
12. Washington	        5-2 
13. South Alabama	9-2 
14. South Carolina	8-2 
15. Oklahoma	        9-0 
16. Texas Tech	        9-5 
17. Georgia Tech	6-3 
18. Duke		14-0 
19. Michigan	        0-2 
20. Texas A&M           11-1 
21. Clemson	        8-1 
22. Tennessee	        7-2 
23. Ohio State	        1-2 
24. Wichita State	0-0 
25. Mississippi State	3-1