How do you choose from a right-handed pitcher who gave up just two hits over 4 2/3 innings in a near-perfect relief win and a lefty who didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning, striking out 11 along the way?
That’s the question — who will be this team’s No. 3 starter? — facing baseball’s head coach Andy Lopez. For now, that answer will be the righty, Mike Colla, who will get the nod this Sunday over southpaw David Coulon.
Friday night starter Preston Guilmet’s role looks all but entrenched after 8 no-hit innings last week, as does that of No. 2 starter Brad Mills, who will move to Saturdays after giving up just one run over 6 2/3 innings last Sunday.
For now, Colla on Sundays makes sense. After all, he was given the first opportunity to earn the Sunday starter’s role.
Besides, Coulon himself admitted that he tired towards the end of his start Tuesday because of all the strikeouts he’d been racking up, and when he struggled last year, it was because of his inability to go deep into games.
“”I wish I didn’t strike out as many people, maybe I could have gone longer,”” he said after his win Tuesday. “”I kind of wore out at the end from striking too many guys out.””
It’s not that Coulon doesn’t deserve to start, because he does, and he should — “”He’s obviously a candidate to be right in that rotation, too,”” Lopez said — it’s that Colla has done nothing to prove that he shouldn’t.
So imagine this scenario: Colla starts, Coulon becomes a spot-starter, but more importantly, becomes Lopez’s best left-handed weapon out of the bullpen this side of closer Daniel Schlereth, and can go four, five and maybe even six innings when needed.

– Ryan Casey, sports writer

Some notable lefties from years past and present: Randy Johnson with four consecutive Cy Young awards (1999-2002), Johann Santana with two awards and Barry Zito with just the one but also a curveball that will make you dizzy.
Why wouldn’t a coach want a southpaw on the mound any given day — or Sunday for that matter?
This is the very question UA head coach Andy Lopez will have to answer before the baseball game on Sunday: Righty Mike Colla or left-hander David Coulon?
Not to discount other right-handers like Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan, but you’ve got to start Coulon not just because he held his opponents hitless for six innings with 11 strikeouts Tuesday but also because of that left arm.
Sure, Colla tallied the win Saturday against Gonzaga after relieving Daniel Schlereth, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings. And sure, by the time Sunday rolls around, he’ll have significantly more rest than Coulon.
But all doubts aside, Coulon will be ready to go with four full days of rest, and he’s already proved he’s confident in the starting role — unlike Colla, who didn’t have a start last season.
“”Everyone wants to start, that’s basically what you come here to do, is to start, and I feel I have a good shot to,”” Coulon said.
In terms of being the No. 3 starter, Lopez said the junior “”deserves it”” and “”he’s worked real hard”” for it.
So what it comes down to is this: Lopez should go with experience, but most importantly, he should go with the left arm.
Obviously the Wildcats should put their best foot forward, but shouldn’t they put in their best arm too? The southpaw it is.

– Melissa Krueger, sports writer