Baseball team hosts Cal as Six-Pac play resumes

The two teams will also square off tomorrow and Sunday at 1 p.m.

The eighth-ranked Wildcats (19-2 overall, 1-2 in the Six-Pac) swept a doubleheader from nonconference foe Southern Utah Wednesday with ease, 16-3 and 13-1.

Cal (2-8-1, 0-4) comes into the series having gotten pounded by UCLA and Arizona State in its first two Six-Pac series of the year.

"It's a Six-Pac series. They're all big no matter who you're playing," UA senior left fielder Jason Hendricks said, dispelling any notion that Arizona is taking the Bears lightly.

Freshman shortstop Keoni DeRenne said the series is always important, no matter Cal's record.

"They're not riding too high right now," DeRenne said. "As long as we take advantage of every opportunity that they give us and not make any mistakes, we should come out on top."

Last season the Wildcats swept all six games against Cal.

Junior catcher Jason Hill and junior shortstop Brian Oliver have led the Bears on offense this season, with highly-touted freshman second baseman Xavier Nady also hitting the ball well.

Cal will likely look to sophomore right-hander Jon Shirley on the mound today, but its starters for tomorrow and Sunday are questionable.

Arizona will counter with junior right-hander Darrell Hussman (2-1, 5.46 ERA) today, followed by junior southpaws Rob Shabanksy (5-1, 3.09) tomorrow and James Johnson (3-0, 3.34) Sunday.