UA baseball team to face stronger Grand Canyon club

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat UA right handed pitcher Dave Abbott (14) sends a pitch home during Arizona's game against Grand Canyon last week. The Wildcats will be facing the Antelopes again starting tonight in Phoenix at 7.

When Grand Canyon came to town the offensive onslaught began, as the Wildcats (27-18) routed the Antelopes 17-0.

But that doesn't mean tonight's 7 p.m. game in Phoenix will be an easy one.

"They're leading their division in the WAC (Western Athletic Conference)," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "And they didn't play most of their regulars last time, so we expect a much tougher game."

The Antelopes (21-16) are coming off a key series against Brigham Young, the second place team in the WAC Northern Division. Grand Canyon took two of the three games in the series to expand its lead over the Cougars.

Arizona, by comparison, is coming off two tough losses in a three-game series at UCLA.

The Wildcats blew a 6-1 lead on Sunday, giving up nine runs in one inning on only three hits and eight walks.

"He was cruising," Stitt said of starting pitcher Tony Milo, who took the loss on Sunday. "He was really hitting his spots, but then he walked a guy, they got a bloop hit, then he walked another guy and then he just couldn't get anyone out."

Stitt said the Wildcats are still feeling down after the two losses.

"Anytime you lose a game you're ahead in, it takes a lot out of you (emotionally)," he said.

Stitt said senior right-hander Tyler Haddix (0-0, 6.85 ERA) will likely start with fellow right-hander Dave Abbott (3-2, 8.73) taking over midway through.

Haddix was rocked on Friday against the Bruins, giving up four runs on five hits in only one inning. He earned a no-decision for the game as Abbott wound up taking the loss.

Stitt said he's not sure who will be in the starting lineup for the game, adding that some of the more banged-up starters could sit out.

One player who may suit up is designated hitter Rob Shabansky. Playing for the first time since late February, Shabansky hit a two-run homer against the Bruins Sunday. Stitt said Shabansky won't be pitching again for a while, though, as his throwing arm has yet to heal from the injury he incurred while pitching against California.

Arizona will use the game as a tune-up for a big series against top-ranked Stanford, which comes to Tucson starting Friday at 7 p.m.

The Wildcats and Antelopes will play once more - a week from today in Tucson. It will be Arizona's final home game of the season.