By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Freshmen excel against BYU
Rebounding from a poor offensive showing Thursday in the team's home opener at Sancet Field, the Wildcats Friday scored often and early en route to a 15-7 victory over Brigham Young.
Arizona (4-2) got the best of BYU starting pitcher James Rey, scoring eight runs off the left-hander in only 3 2/3 innings.
"I just like to see them do the things that they are capable of," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said.
The Wildcats, who never trailed in the game, had season highs of 22 hits and 15 runs. Each Wildcat starter had at least one hit.
Prior to Friday's game, Stitt moved junior right fielder Shelley Duncan to the No. 3 spot in the lineup. Senior Ernie Durazo moved back one spot to No. 4.
"We decided today to put Shelley third," Stitt said. "It is a good spot for him especially with Ernie behind him. I think it really is going to help Shelley, and Ernie, too, because Shelley is going to be on base a lot."
Durazo, who went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, had a two-run single in the third inning and an RBI double in the fourth to help UA jump out to an 8-0 lead.
With a three-run home run off BYU pitcher Shawn Hancock in the seventh inning, Duncan moved closer to becoming the all-time home run leader in UA history.
Duncan, who finished the day 3 for 5 with five RBIs, is four home runs short of Kenny Corley's 36.
"I don't want to even think about it," Duncan said jokingly after the game.
Three Arizona freshmen - Brian Anderson, Marc Kaiser and Anthony Sulser - turned in solid performances against the Cougars.
Anderson, who had one career at-bat prior to Friday's game, went 4 for 5 while making his first start in center field.
"It was my first game, so I was nervous," he said. "It feels good afterward, though."
Kaiser, the UA starting pitcher, gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings while striking out four batters. Closing out the game, Sulser (1-0) earned his first career victory.
The three-game series was to be completed Saturday, but the game was canceled due to rain. No make-up game has been scheduled.
Arizona opens a three-game series against St. Mary's today at 3 p.m. at Sancet Field.
