UA tries to regain form versus Dominguez Hills

Ian Meyer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA center fielder Diego Rico dives back to first base during Saturday's game against Cal State Fullerton at Sancet Field. The 12th-ranked Titans won 20-9, completing the series sweep of Arizona.

The Wildcats (5-5) will send senior right-hander Tyler Haddix (0-1) to the mound today at 2:30 p.m. against the Toros, who are currently 2-0.

UA junior right-hander David Quick (0-0) will start in Wednesday's game, also at 2:30 p.m.

Dominguez Hills is coming off a 33-22 season, they finished tied for 18th in Division II schools.

UA leads the series between the two teams, 30-6.

Although the Titans battered Wildcat pitching for 51 runs in last weekend's three game sweep, a few positives emerged for Arizona. Junior Jake Thrower has hit safely in his last seven at-bats and has played solid defense at shortstop.

He is the just the 14th player in UA history to reach seven at bats, and is just three hits shy of Carl Thomas' school record for consecutive hits, set in 1956.

Starting in all 10 Arizona games, Thrower is leading the team with his .417 batting average, 15 hits and 10 walks.

Freshman Mike Meyer, who started the season hitting 5 for 28 (.179) before the Fullerton series, has been able to relax at the plate and has found a groove. Meyer collected hits in eight of his last 11 at-bats and has raised his average to .333. He hopes the rest of the team will follow his example.

"I think we will be okay," Meyer said. "We played a real good team early on. We have a lot to work on, but the talent's here and we can have a good season."

Another Wildcat that has produced is junior right fielder Colin Porter. Who is currently on a six-game hitting streak, going 9 for 22 (.409) in the process. His .361 batting average is second on the team to Thrower. He leads the team with five doubles and is tied for the team lead with 11 runs and two triples.

While Arizona's bats have heated up, Wildcat pitching has cooled down. The Cats allowed 51 runs, 49 earned, in the three game Fullerton series. In the first seven games,they had allowed only 15.

UA's team ERA has ballooned from 2.18 to 6.47.

"We need to start putting some zeros up there," UA pitching coach Bill Kinneberg said.