By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Going into the season, the UA baseball roster listed 15 freshman pitchers.
According to UA head coach Jerry Stitt, each of his young hurlers posses the talent to be a success at the college level but lack valuable experience.
So far this season, Arizona's freshmen are responsible for four of the team's five wins and have recorded three saves to go with 53.2 innings pitched.
Stitt is pleased with his young staff but said that they are not throwing as many strikes as he would like.
"They are throwing way too many pitches," Stitt said. "They're having problems putting away guys away with two strikes, but they're learning."
Although Stitt and UA pitching coach Bill Kinneberg have shown confidence in the young staff, they realize that Arizona's fate will rest solely on how well the team can pitch and play defense.
"I think they're going to get better," senior first baseman Ernie Durazo said. "We have young pitchers, and it's a new experience for them, and we have to bear with them.
"I think they will come out when we need them the most, and I have a lot of confidence in them."
Despite the team's 5-4 record, many Wildcat players have demonstrated success at the plate.
Durazo is riding a 12-game hitting streak that dates back to last season.
"My main goal is to get a hit in every game," Durazo said. "I can get a hit and keep the streak alive, but do I get that hit when we need it? It's more important for me to get a hit when a man is on base."
In addition to Durazo, junior left fielder Justyn St. Clair, senior third baseman Erik Torres and sophomore second baseman Matt Abram are nursing hitting streaks of their own.
St. Clair has hit in eight straight games, while Abram and Torres have hit in seven straight.
Even though the Wildcats are having moderate individual success, their offense has not been productive with runners in scoring position.
"We have great hitters on this team," Abram said. "We will, sooner or later, start getting hits with men on base."
Abram homered in each of the past three games.
While the sophomore leads the Wildcats with three home runs, he said he is not pleased with himself.
"Three home runs are great, but they were all solo (shots)," Abram said. "I didn't knock anyone in.
"I got good pitches because no one was on base. I need to start hitting home runs when people are on base to help my team win, or it really doesn't matter."
