UA Baseball team heads to San Diego

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore first baseman Ernie Durazo (44) tries to tag out a Texas A&M runner at first base during Saturday's game at Sancet Field. The Wildcats (13-1) are in Southern California today through Sunday to play in the San Diego Baseball Classic.

The Wildcats, who jumped out to the third best start in school history at 13-0 before losing the final game of last weekend's series with Texas A&M 18-9, will play four different teams in four days.

They take the field against Loyola Marymount (4-5) today, San Diego (2-5) on Friday, San Diego State (6-4) on Saturday and finish with Oklahoma State (3-0) on Sunday.

"We are gonna go over there and play each opponent as they come," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "Loyola and USD have everybody back, but the others will be something new for us. You have to scout them in batting practice."

Junior catcher Dennis Anderson also shared his thoughts about scouting the four teams.

"It's tough. You have to always plan for different types of pitchers and teams. You have to see what they are doing and to do that it might take a couple of at-bats," he said.

Arizona moved up in all three major polls for college baseball this past week. They debuted this week at No. 7 in the ESPN/USA Today Baseball Weekly poll and at No. 19 in Baseball America. The Wildcats also moved up to No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball poll from No. 21.

Probable Arizona Starting Lineup BA HR RBI 1. Troy Gingrich, CF .276 1 9 2. Keoni DeRenne, SS .403 0 12 3. Erik Torres, 3B .288 2 14 4. Shelley Duncan, RF .373 8 22 5. Kenny Huff, LF .313 2 12 6. Rafell Jones, DH .289 1 8 7. Ernie Durazo, 1B .239 0 6 8. Dennis Anderson, C .436 3 19 9. Andy Juday, 2B .367 1 11

"That's awesome," freshman right fielder Shelley Duncan said of his team's 13-1 record. "We're getting moved up in the national rankings. Someone even gave us a first place vote in the USA Today poll."

The Wildcats lead the all-time series with three of the four teams as they hold a 14-6 advantage over Loyola Marymount, 13-1 over San Diego and a 45-30-2 record against San Diego State. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, has an 8-2 advantage over the Wildcats.

In Stitt's three years as head coach of the Wildcats, they have only played San Diego and they swept the Toreros last season in January 12-8, 15-9 and 10-5 at Frank Sancet Field.

Arizona will try to defend its 13-1 record by putting junior Mike Crawford (2-0, 2.45 ERA) on the mound to face Loyola Marymount. Junior Tony Milo (2-0, 3.00 ERA) will take the hill against San Diego, junior Josh Pearce (3-0, 3.24 ERA) will face San Diego State and either junior Dave Abbott or freshman Ben Diggins will pitch against Oklahoma State.

"Sunday's pitcher will depend on who comes in relief in the earlier games," Stitt said.

The only ranked opponent that the Wildcats will face is Oklahoma State as they are ranked No. 19 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 25 in ESPN/USA Today Baseball Weekly.

Dan Rosen can be reached at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu