Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Arizona, UCSB clash in final non-conference series

The key to overcoming any tragedy in life is to move on, at least that's the way the UA baseball team sees it.

Last weekend, the Wildcats allowed 55 runs in a three-game series against Arizona State and were swept in three games.

But that was last weekend.

UA returns home to Sancet Field this afternoon to take on unranked UC-Santa Barbara (8-8) in a non-conference series.

For the Wildcats (13-11), the series marks a chance to get back on the field following last weekend's disappointing trip to Tempe. It is the team's final non-conference series before UA takes on California next weekend in Pacific 10 Conference play.

In the Gauchos, UA is facing a team shrouded in mystery.

"We haven't heard much at all about Santa Barbara," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "There's no scouting report or anything."

The Wildcats will be playing UCSB with some of the team's best players at half-speed. Injuries and illness have turned the Wildcats into a collection of the walking wounded.

UA's regular first baseman, Ernie Durazo, is still slowed with a bad hamstring and is listed as day-to-day. Center fielder Troy Gingrich and catcher Chris Cunningham are also banged up, while starting third baseman Erik Torres has been battling a case of food poisoning all week and is questionable for the series against the Gauchos.

According to Stitt, the injuries leave the Wildcats at the mercy of their backups, who have been playing well lately.

"Troy (Gingrich) will play," Stitt said. "And the guys who've taken over for Ernie (Durazo) - Mike Myer, Jeff Casper, and Matt Abram - have played well."

Stitt insists that the team's morale was not hurt following last Saturday's 32-3 loss to ASU. In the game, eight Wildcat pitchers allowed eight home runs as the Sun Devils set a school record for total bases in a game with 54.

"We're just trying to get the guys back on track," Stitt said. "We just forget about it ."

Last weekend, UA used every pitcher on its roster, looking to find someone to get outs. Even sophomore Shelley Duncan, the team's regular right fielder, pitched on Sunday. .