College World Series 2012: Key Players Who Will Keep Arizona's Run Going

The Arizona baseball team has not lost a game in the postseason, and with a few key performances, the team will keep its streak alive.

The Wildcats opened up play in Omaha with a thrilling extra-inning victory over Florida State. The team then blanked Pac-12 rival UCLA and eliminated the Bruins. 

Now, Arizona and Florida State will play again with the Seminoles on the brink of elimination.

Here are the three key players for Arizona that will need to perform well in order to send FSU home. 

Kurt Heyer, RHP

Heyer pitched in the team’s first matchup at the College World Series on June 15, and head coach Andy Lopez saw no reason not go with his ace one more time.

Heyer is 12-2 this season with a 2.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 145.2 innings pitched. Against FSU earlier in the tournament, he threw for 7.2 innings and allowed six hits and one earned run. He struck out eight batters.

The junior has been fantastic this season and Lopez’s decision to put him on the mound signals that he is going all-in on this game and has no plans to let Florida State get another shot at a place in the championship series. 

Heyer will need to be at his best as these two teams are evenly matched.

Johnny Field, OF

Arizona has eight hitters who are batting over .300 this season, but Field has been the best of the bunch. 

He has a .377 average and a .545 slugging percentage. He only has three home runs, but he has cracked 18 doubles and seven triples this season. 

Field has the best stats, but he has also proved that he can deliver in the most pressure-packed moments. His RBI-double in the 12^th inning of Arizona’s first matchup with FSU gave his team a 4-3 victory. 

Field has been the team’s best hitter this season and the Wildcats will need him to be at the top of his game once again in order to get a chance to compete for a national championship.

Alex Mejia, SS 

Mejia will be Heyer’s best friend against Florida State, as the shortstop is capable of helping immensely on defense and with run support.

The junior has had a remarkable season that has earned him Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Honors. Mejia has batted .360 with a .488 slugging percentage, and has a fielding percentage of .959. 

He is undoubtedly the Wildcat’s best all-around player and he must be a large part of any success that Arizona has going forward.

If Mejia continues to play like he has all season long, the Wildcats will follow him to the title series.