After a sweep of Cal State-Dominguez Hills, the Arizona baseball team is primed to face defending Pacific 10 Conference Northern Division Champion Washington State in a three-game series that starts today at 2:30 p.m. at Sancet Field.

The Cougars (5-2) are coming off a six-day road trip to Honolulu and Hilo, Hawaii.

"They're a good team," UA head coach Jerry Kindall said of Washington State. "They went over to Hawaii for their first games and didn't have any practice time outside and won one of the three games and played two really tough ones against the University of Hawaii."

Kindall was unsure of who would pitch tomorrow, but listed Clay Crossan (0-1, 4.20 ERA) as today's starter and Matt Hendren (1-0, 1.17 ERA) as the starter for Sunday.

The team has found its stride over the last two games both offensively and defensively. In the two-game series against the Toros, the Wildcats had 30 hits and scored 23 runs. In contrast, they allowed only 15 runs and committed just one error. The team was led by the consistent play of second baseman John Powers. Powers, who is the senior co-captain, set an example at the plate and in the field.

"John's a sparkplug kind of guy," Kindall said. "He's our captain and we need spiritual and emotional leadership out of him as well as good play in the field."

The players hope to transfer their good play into the series with Washington State.

"We're just going to come out and be as well prepared as we can be, and go all out and see what they put up against us," junior first baseman Brian Becker said. "You can expect us to come out hard."

Kindall is looking forward to a tough series against the Cougars.

"They're quite a solid team. They won the Northern Division last year and played (Southern Cal) in the playoffs," Kindall said. "I think we'll find they're a very worthy, very fine opponent."

Because of the men's basketball game at 3 p.m., tomorrow's game will start at 11 a.m. Sunday's game time is set for 1 p.m. All games will be broadcast live on KNST (AM 790).