By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
So far this season, Arizona head coach Jerry Stitt has said that offensive inconsistency has led to the UA baseball team's losing record.
However, the Wildcats produced an average of eight runs per game this weekend against Long Beach State, nearly two runs above the team's season average.
The Wildcats' recent offensive improvement could be due to a lineup change made by the coaches for the weekend series with the Dirtbags.
Stitt switched senior first baseman Ernie Durazo to third in the order and junior right fielder Duncan to the cleanup spot. Senior third baseman Erik Torres was moved from fifth to second in the order to jump-start the team's offensive production.
Stitt's changes have seemed to help the players immensely.
Durazo finished the weekend series with six hits and six runs-batted-in, while Duncan logged hits and 10 RBI.
Durazo said that moving Torres to second in the order helped the team greatly because the senior has the ability to produce in hit-and-run situations and can bunt when asked.
"Sometimes when I bat fourth, I get more guys on base," Duncan said. "A lot of times, Erik will be in hit-and-run situations. The success of this lineup will depend if everyone can keep it up to show its effectiveness."
Since he put on an Arizona uniform, Duncan has repeatedly surprised those in college baseball. This past weekend was no different.
The junior became Arizona's career home run leader when he hit homer No. 37 Sunday afternoon at Sancet Field.
Duncan's teammates said that the junior is just starting to reach his full potential.
"He is so important to our lineup," Durazo said. "He can produce and hit a home run anytime, which is amazing - I congratulate him for that. He's so important, and he is not even on fire yet. When he gets on fire, it's going to be pretty scary."
Duncan's defensive abilities have complemented the junior's offensive game as well.
Sunday, Duncan managed to save two runs courtesy of a circus catch in the outfield.
"One thing about Shelley is he has always been a defensive player," assistant coach Victor Solis said. "His offensive abilities have always overshadowed his defensive talents. Now he is finally getting some defensive recognition."
The UA pitching staff is hurting.
This past weekend, the young Wildcat staff managed to allow 45 runs in three games. Sunday, only one pitcher - freshman Kevin Rupprecht - failed to allow an earned run.
According to UA coaches, the pitching staff's problems have been compounded by Arizona's inability to play defense.
"Our pitching is not our problem," Solis said. "Our defense is not playing solid, and our pitchers are doing good enough right now.
"Our lack of defense has opened the flood gates for big innings, which has cost us a lot this season."
