Mike Weldon is not supposed to be a star.
As the UA's backup second baseman, Weldon is expected to provide some late-game defensive help and give starters a break when they need days off.
The way he's hitting, though, Weldon might not fit the role of fill-in for long.
The sophomore went 3 for 4 with five RBIs and two runs scored Wednesday as the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats rolled over UNLV 16-6 at Kindall/Sancet Stadium.
Arizona (7-1) finished its midweek sweep with force, scoring seven runs in the seventh inning and five in the eighth against a pitching-poor Rebels team.
Weldon, starting for the first time this season, made his pitch for more playing time.
A Canyon del Oro High School graduate, Weldon has appeared in just four of the Wildcats' first seven games, mostly a late-innings defensive replacement. Before Wednesday, he had just two at-bats.
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"Mike had good numbers in terms of fall baseball and spring baseball," UA coach Andy Lopez said. "He really has deserved a chance to play before today."
The problem is, Weldon's stuck.
Colt Sedbrook is hitting .385 as Arizona's everyday second baseman and offensive sparkplug. Sedbrook is also a senior, having started 110 games in the last two-plus seasons.
"Behind a senior," Weldon joked. "That helps, right?"
With Weldon at second base on Wednesday, however, the Wildcats did not miss a beat.
He gave the UA a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning when he drove starter Stephen Singer's fastball into left field for a two-run single. Weldon advanced to third on Bryce Ortega's single to left, then scored when Dwight Childs ripped a sacrifice fly to right field.
Weldon tripled home two runs and scored as part of Arizona's seven-run seventh. He capped the stellar day with an RBI double in the five-run eighth.
UNLV (5-5) scored twice in the ninth, but barely dented the Cats' lead.
"Hell of a game for Weldon," said center fielder T.J. Steele, Weldon's friend since grade school. "I think he's a great player and a tremendous help for this team. If he can keep hitting like that …"
Steele did not finish his sentence, but Lopez echoed the sentiment.
"Weldon is a solid, solid player," he said. "He'll make Sedbrook a better player — or he'll take over his job."
Inside pitch
● Steele temporarily saved the game for the Wildcats. With the game tied in the seventh inning, he made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Ryan Thornton of a sure homer. Arizona responded by scoring seven in the bottom half of the inning.
Steele shrugged when asked to relive the play.
"It was kind of just an instinct play," he said. "I couldn't tell ya."
● UA reliever Ryan Doyle will one day tell his grandkids that he got Joe DiMaggio out. Doyle finished Wednesday's game by getting the "other" Joe D. — a backup outfielder for the Rebels — to pop out to first base.
DiMaggio plays center field and wears No. 5, but does not claim to be related to the former Yankees great. This DiMaggio started at Arizona State before transferring to Mesa Community College and then UNLV.
up next
• What: Arizona vs. South Alabama
• Where: Corpus Christi, Texas (Whataburger College Classic)
• When: 6 p.m. Friday
