University of Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz.- Shelley Duncan and Ernie Durazo both hit home runs and collected multiple RBI as the Arizona Wildcats defeated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 7-2 at Sancet Field Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats continued their hot hitting with 10 hits on the afternoon, including six for extra bases. Arizona improved its record to 18-12 on the season while the T-Birds fell to 1-17.

Durazo got the Cats on the board early with his fifth home run of the season, a three run shot to center to score Brad Hassey and Erik Torres. Torres extended his hitting streak to seven straight games with a 3-for-4 effort on Saturday.

After Southern Utah closed the gap to 3-2 in third, Arizona jumped back out to a three run lead on Duncan's two-out, two-run homer. It was Duncan's Pac-10 leading 12th home run of the season.

Arizona would add single runs in the fourth and the sixth on a RBI double by Clayton Bried and a throwing error by SUU's Russ Schmitt off of a Justyn St. Clair single.

Wildcat starter Sean Rierson (3-2) earned his second straight win scattering five hits with four strike outs. He surrendered two runs, only one of which was earned. Brian Pemble was nearly perfect in four innings of relief giving up only one hit and striking out five while walking none to earn his first save of the season.

Arizona will look for the series sweep as the two schools meet for the final game of the three game set Sunday at 1 p.m.