By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Pemble, bullpen key to UA success
The Arizona baseball team showed yesterday that it doesn't rely solely on junior right fielder Shelley Duncan and senior first baseman Ernie Durazo to win.
The Wildcats (5-2) defeated St. Mary's College 8-4 at Sancet Field.
Duncan and Durazo, who usually lead the way for the Arizona offense, went a combined 2 for 8, well below their averages.
Durazo had an RBI on a leadoff homerun in the second hitting.
"Different guys did it today," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "Abram swung the bat well today. (Erik)Torres and (Ken) Riley did a good job, as well. You can't always rely on Shelley and Ernie to do it."
UA junior Pitcher Brian Pemble led the way for the Wildcats with 4.2 innings of relief.
Pemble allowed two earned runs on three hits to go with a game-high five strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.
Pemble (1-1) came in for the starting pitcher, junior David Brockman, who lacked control in his 2.1 innings of work.
"Brian threw strikes today, which he did not do in his first outing," Stitt said. "He had all three pitches going today."
Pemble, who was roughed up in his first outing against Hawaii-Hilo, made a case for joining the Arizona starting rotation, although it's not a case he is arguing.
"I am happy going out there in relief, starting or sitting the bench - as long as we are winning," Pemble said. "As long as everyone knows their role on the team as a reliever or a starter, which I think we do, then we will be just fine."
Sophomore Eric Bowden (0-1) took the loss for St. Mary's.
UA Senior Daryl DeSalvo pitched the final two innings to earn the save.
Arizona overcame the lack of production from its leaders with a balanced offensive attack led by sophomore second baseman Matt Abram, who contributed three hits and three RBIs along with his first home run of the season.
Senior third baseman Torres and sophomore catcher Riley each had two hits. Riley added an RBI.
Stitt credited the victory to the entire team.
"For the most part, everyone contributed today," Stitt said. "In order to be successful, we have to have nine guys ready every day to execute and contribute."
The Wildcat pitchers seemed to have more confidence on the mound, a result that can be credited to the offense's recent outburst.
"When we score it helps our pitching staff because I think they were a little worried about us scoring runs," Abram said. "I knew our offense would score runs eventually. I think it just took a few games to get going, and, hopefully, we will keep going all season long."
St. Mary's jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Wildcats changed the momentum in the third inning.
The Gaels were looking to break a 2-2 score with two men on and one out.
Stitt then pulled Brockman for Pemble, who retired the next two batters to end the inning.
"That was the whole key to us winning today," Abram said. "We need people to come in and stop them out of the bullpen."
"If we swing our bats and get that type of performance out of our bullpen, we will be very successful this year."
The score was still 2-2 entering the fourth inning, when the offense came alive.
Arizona scored four runs with two outs to extend its lead to 6-2.
"I think if our team comes out and plays with enthusiasm every day, no team can beat us," Abram said. "We have to come out every day and give it all we got, and that's what it takes to be a good team."
The Wildcats play St. Mary's today at 3 p.m. at Sancet Field. The projected starters are junior Mike Byer for the Gaels and freshman Chris Goodman for Arizona.
