USC, UCLA Square Off in Key Series

USC will try to keep a share of the lead in the Pacific 10 Conference and UCLA will try to improve its chances for an at-large bid to the NCAA baseball playoffs when the Trojans play host to the Bruins in a three-game series starting tonight at 7 at Dedeaux Field.

USC, ranked 17th by Baseball America, is 29-20 overall and is tied with No. 6 Stanford for the Pac-10 lead at 14-4.

UCLA (24-25, 8-7 in the Pac-10) is in fifth place in conference, 4 1/2 games behind the Trojans and Stanford. The Bruins have won nine of their last 12 games and have swept their last two conference series, against Arizona State and Washington State.

USC junior left-hander Barry Zito (9-2, 3.56 earned-run average), expected by many to be a first-round draft pick, will start tonight against Bruin sophomore right-hander Jon Brandt (7-3, 4.36).

Saturday and Sunday games are at 1 p.m. at Dedeaux Field.