By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
While their friends leave Tucson for the friendly confines of their favorite beach or party spot over spring break, the Arizona baseball players will take to the friendly confines of Sancet Field for a pair of Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division three-game series with UCLA and California.
First up for the Wildcats (13-12-1 overall, 1-2 in the Six-Pac) is UCLA. The Bruins will be in Tucson this weekend for three games, beginning today at 2:30 p.m. at home.
UCLA (10-8 overall, 2-4 in the Six-Pac) is coming off two three-game series with Stanford and Southern Cal.
Ryan Frace will go to the mound for the Arizona today. Frace is 3-3 with a 3.25 ERA and five complete games. Clay Crossan (2-0, 3.90 ERA) will pitch tomorrow. Sunday's pitcher is yet to be announced.
UCLA will counter with right-hander Rick Heineman (2-2, 4.13 ERA) today, left-hander Jim Parque (1-2, 3.23 ERA) tomorrow, and their ace right-hander John Phillips (3-0, 1.85 ERA), Sunday.
The Golden Bears (8-10, 1-1) will pay the Wildcats a visit next weekend for a series that will run Friday through Sunday. Friday's game will start at 7 p.m., and each weekend game begins at 1 p.m. Pitchers for each team have yet to be announced.
The UA's first action after spring break is a game March 21 against Grand Canyon University at 7 p.m. in Phoenix.
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Barring a disaster of immense proportions, Arizona coach Jerry Kindall will pass Frank Sancet this week as Arizona baseball's all-time winningest coach.
In 23 years, Sancet amassed a record of 831-275-10. Kindall, also in his 23rd season, is 830-521-6. ...
Senior Menno Wickey struggled a bit in the early going but has broken out of it in a big way. He has a seven-game hitting steak dating back to Feb. 24, and is leading the team in stolen bases with 10.