Glenn
Arizona’s Brad Glenn, the school’s No. 2 career all-time home run hitter, is usually called upon for power.
So when the senior third baseman laid down only the second bunt of his career during a 13-5 victory over New Mexico on Wednesday, UA catcher Dwight Childs couldn’t contain himself.
“Big Bradley laying down a bunt. It’s funny. If you look at him, you are thinking, ‘No shot,’ ” Childs said. “All of a sudden, he pulls a little Willie Mays’ Hayes and drops one down the line.”
Glenn was only 2 when actor Wesley Snipes played the fictional player Hayes in the movie “Major League,” but Glenn won’t mind the reference after going into Wednesday’s game 5 for his last 25 at-bats.
The Wildcats called on a player who has 39 homers to bunt after Bryce Ortega and Hunter Pace bunted to open the fourth.
New Mexico’s third baseman was standing back, not expecting Glenn’s bunt, which loaded the bases and sparked a six-run fourth inning as UA swept the two-game series at Sancet Stadium.
“There are no secrets. He has to start driving the ball and bringing some people home,” UA coach Andy Lopez said. “I really do believe if Glenn can get going, we can get going.”
The Wildcats (16-16, 3-9 Pac-10) will see about that when they start a three-game set at Washington State at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Glenn, second only to Shelley Duncan’s 55 in UA career homers, had his other bunt at last year’s NCAA regional in Ann Arbor, Mich.
“If I get it down, it’s usually going to be a base hit because the third baseman is not going to be expecting it,” Glenn said. “They are usually playing me back.”
It’s Glenn’s power, however, that the Wildcats need most.
He provided that as well with a two-run double in the third inning, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
The Wildcats had seven straight hits in the third inning, with Shaun Cooper belting a three-run homer. It was the former Catalina High School star’s second homer in two games.
“Cooper is swinging it well right now,” Lopez said. “He has been one of the big bright spots.”
Arizona scored 13 runs on 14 hits in the third and fourth innings alone to take a 13-1 lead.
The Lobos came in as the nation’s top hitting team by average (.382), but their 10 hits Wednesday did little damage.