GOAZCATS.com - Trojans come to town

April 3, 2009

Jason Barrera
GOAZCATS.com Baseball Staff Writer

After a devastating 1-5 road trip against Arizona State and UCLA to begin the Pac-10 season, the Arizona baseball team returns home to square off with the USC Trojans in a three game weekend series at the friendly confines of Jerry Kindall Field.

Last season, the Trojans captured two of three from the Wildcats in Los Angeles, with the only UA victory coming in the season opener due to the stellar pitching of ace right-hander Preston Guilmet. The next two contests saw the Trojans pitch two shutouts to claim the series win.

Fast forward to this season with Arizona sitting at the bottom of the Pacific 10 standings and the Wildcats will try to climb up the conference ladder against a USC club led by shortstop Grant Green.

Thought to be a top 5 choice in the major league baseball draft, Green has earned NCBWA Preseason All-America second team honors and currently holds the USC career record for triples with 15.

The junior from Anaheim Hills (Calif.) is carrying over his sensational performance as a sophomore where he batted .390 with 9 homeruns and 46 RBI. So far in the 2009 campaign, Green hasn't missed a beat, currently leading the team in hitting, slugging percentage, and total bases (.366/.573/47).

In addition to a star in the batting order, USC also holds another gem in the starting rotation.

Junior right-hander Brad Boxberger is fully recovered from an elbow injury and has been superb as the Friday night starter for the Trojans, currently boasting a 2.23 ERA, with 50 strikeouts to 27 walks, and a .152 BAA. Over the summer in the Cape Cod League, Boxberger had 28 strikeouts in just 18 2/3 innings, while earning a 2.89 ERA. He is rated by Baseball America as the No. 36 collegiate prospect in the nation.

With both teams coming off two series losses to ASU and UCLA, the upcoming three game series between Arizona and USC is paramount for each club to fight its way back into the upper-echelon of the conference.

The Friday night pitching matchup will be vital as both Preston Guilmet and Brad Boxberger will try and set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

Look for both managers to force the action on the base paths and to play for runs early with sacrifice bunts, steals, or hit and runs throughout the entire series. Neither manager will wait around for the three run jack, or allow any of the opposing pitchers to find their groove, especially with ducks on the pond.

Probable Starters:

Friday April 3 (7:00 p.m. PT)
Arizona: Preston Guilmet, RHP, Sr. (2-3, 4.46)
USC: Brad Boxberger, RHP, Jr. (2-3, 2.23)

Saturday April 4 (6:00 p.m. PT)
Arizona: Matt Veltmann, RHP, So. (2-3, 8.06)
USC: Andrew Triggs, RHP, RS Fr. (2-1, 2.51)

Sunday April 5 (12:00 p.m. PT)
Arizona: TBA
USC: TBA

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