After narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years, Arizona baseball opens its 2020 season Friday night when it host Albany at Hi Corbett Field.
With opening day rapidly approaching, it's clear which aspect of the Wildcats’ game needs to improve if the program is to be invited to its first regional since 2017.
Pitching.
Last year, the Wildcats (who finished 32-24) boasted one of college baseball’s best offenses, incredibly finishing the season top five in the NCAA in batting average, runs, on base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles and triples. But they were still left out of the tournament because of a pitching staff that ranked as low as 249th in the NCAA for team ERA, 214th for strikeouts per game, 263rd for walks allowed per game, 241st in hits allowed per game, and tied for dead last in all of college baseball in shutouts.