LAFAYETTE, La. βΒ Bobby Dalbec hit a towering fly ball to right-center that just kept going and going until it cleared the wall at M.L. βTigueβ Moore Field.
It was the sort of opposite-field power that Dalbec displayed regularly last season, less so this year.
But the junior third basemanβs bat is coming around at the ideal time for the Arizona Wildcats.
Dalbec has been on a tear since last week, and it continued with a 2-for-4 performance in Arizonaβs 7-3 victory over Sam Houston State in the opener of the Lafayette Regional on Friday.
After struggling at the plate for much of the season, Dalbec has 12 hits in his last 23 at-bats. The home run was his first since April 26 and his sixth this season. He had 15 as a sophomore, part of a breakout year that elevated his draft stock and landed him on numerous preseason All-America lists.
Unable to match last yearβs production, Dalbec started pressing.
βThere was a point of realization, from a statistics point of view, that he was not going to have the season he wanted to have,β Johnson said. βHe worked hard and made some adjustments.
βWe wanted to simplify things for him. What it came down to was stepping into the box with a clear mind, seeing the ball as well as he can and putting a good swing on a good pitch.β
Dalbec credited his improvement to βjust kind of taking all the pressure off, being aggressive, seeing the ball. As coach says, βFix your eyes, fix your swing.ββ
When it rains β¦
Fridayβs game started five hours later than planned because of inclement weather. How did the teams spend that time?
The Bearkats participated in a game of tennis-ball baseball in Louisiana Lafayetteβs indoor practice facility. They also tossed a football around.
The Wildcats sought cover in the fieldhouse as well β¦ and went to sleep.
βWe had kindergarten naptime,β Johnson said. βThe guys just kind of relaxed. They leveraged their energy well.β
Arizona also returned to its hotel until a definitive start time was determined.
βWe just kind of hung out,β Dalbec said.
Cumulative efffect
Although he said fatigue didnβt affect him, Sam Houston State starter Heath Donica wasnβt as effective the second time through the order. He started twice last week during the Southland Conference Tournament.
Several Bearkats pitchers have had to take on a greater workload since top starter Sam Odom was ruled academically ineligible in mid-May. Odom, a junior, was 7-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 12 starts.
βTheyβve all had to absorb innings,β Sam Houston State coach Matt Deggs said. βIβm not going to speak to why theyβve had to absorb it. As tough as they think they are and as bad as they want the ball, itβs going to have a residual effect on you.β
Inside pitch
β’ Friday marked the first time Arizona had hit three home runs in a postseason game since bashing three in a 9-8 win over New Orleans in the 2007 Wichita Regional.
β’ First baseman Ryan Aguilarβs three-run homer in the fourth inning was his first since April 23. That was also a three-run shot, which gave Arizona an 8-5, 13-inning victory at Cal. DH JJ Matijevic has two home runs in his past four games β after hitting two in his first 53.
β’ The first few innings were rough for Arizona freshman catcher Cesar Salazar. In the top of the first, Salazar made a sliding catch on a foul popup by Clayton Harp and skidded knees-first into the brick wall behind the plate. In the third, Bryce Johnsonβs foul tip struck Salazar below the belt. He was doubled over for a few minutes but remained in the game.
