The Arizona baseball team faces intense competition at No. 10 Oregon, in Eugene, Ore., this weekend.
Probable starting pitchers:
ARIZ: James Farris, RHP, Sr. (4-5, 4.00) UO: Tommy Thorpe, LHP, Jr. (6-4, 2.45) – Friday, 7 p.m.
ARIZ: Cody Hamlin, RHP, RSo. (5-3, 2.94) UO: Jeff Gold, RHP, RSr. (9-0, 2.30) – Saturday, 3 p.m.
ARIZ: Tyger Talley, RHP, So. (1-1, 4.15) UO: Brando Tessar, RHP, Sr. (3-0, 2.61) – Sunday, 4 p.m.
Arizona (18-25, 7-14 Pac-12 Conference) returns to action after losing a home series against ASU while Oregon (31-13, 10-8) returns after a sweep from Oregon State. Last season, Oregon took the series by sweeping Arizona in Eugene.
Farris will be Arizona’s starting pitcher on Friday. Over his last three starts, Farris has a 2.45 ERA; however, there has only been one run of support in those outings.
Oregon’s Tommy Thorpe returns from pitching six innings against OSU on April 25, allowing three runs on seven hits and six strikeouts.
Arizona has four series left, three against Pac-12 foes, and head coach Andy Lopez said the team will try to finish the season well by making adjustments.
“I always believe that on every pitch, someone gives in,” Lopez said. “I haven’t gotten our guys to be the ones to not give in, but I do think it’ll get better as the season will go on.”
Lopez said getting hits with runners in scoring position has been the issue all season. He said he doesn’t know why but that he will try fixing it for the rest of the games Arizona has left to play, starting with this weekend’s series.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday’s at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s at 4 p.m. All three games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
—Follow Rose Aly Valenzuela @RoseAlyVal
