Wildcats take power offense to Texas

By Craig Degel

Arizona Daily Wildcat

The Arizona baseball team, which has won six of its last seven games, begin a three-game series against Texas A&M today in College Station, Texas.

The Aggies swept a three-game series at Sancet Field last year. Texas A&M, however, has lost four of its last five this season. Ranked No. 22 in the preseason by Baseball America, the Aggies' current losing streak has dropped them out of the latest poll.

"They're a very good team, and we know that," UA coach Jerry Kindall said. "They'll be a stern test."

The road trip will pose something of a new situation for the Wildcats. Texas A&M draws about 5,000 people per home game Äroughly five times more than Arizona usually gets at Sancet.

The Aggies, on the other hand, must be wary of Arizona's offensive power. After the UA's 40-10 victory over St. Francis (N.Y.) College Wednesday, Kindall received two phone calls from Texas asking if there had been a typo.

"It (the game) was almost bizarre," Kindall said. "In college, it's virtually unheard of.

"Not to diminish from the 28 hits, but St. Francis' pitching was not good. The competition will be manifold over this week."

Ben White (0-3) will start today for the Wildcats, and Matt Hendren (0-2) and Ryan Frace (3-2) are scheduled to start tomorrow and Sunday, respectively.

Ryan Rupe will start today for the Aggies. The game is slated to start at 2 p.m. Tucson time.

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NOTES: Kindall is just five victories shy of surpassing Frank Sancet as the all-time winningest coach in Arizona baseball history. Wednesday's victory over St. Francis brought Kindall's career victory mark to 827. Sancet guided the UA to 831 victories during his 22-year stint as head coach. J.F. "Pop" McKale is third with 320. ...

Before their sweep of the Terriers, the Wildcats were the only team in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division with a losing record at home. ...

When Arizona State comes to Tucson a week from today, it will be the first time the Sun Devils have played outside their home, Packard Stadium, in 20 games. ...

UA freshman Diego Rico was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for Feb. 14-20. Rico went 11-for-16 with four RBI and also scored seven runs in a four-game series against Hawaii-Hilo. ...

Through their first 13 games, the Wildcats have scored 64 runs Ä and 106 in their last five.

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