USU baseball club looks to keep win streak alive in three-game homestand
The Utah State baseball club will attempt to position itself in first place of the Western Mountain Conference standings this weekend.
The Aggies host a three-game series with the Eastern Washington Eagles, playing two games Saturday and two Sunday at Providence Field.
Last weekend, USU swept a three-game road series with the University of Idaho, giving the Aggies a 6-0 record in conference play and a 12-9 overall mark.
To stand alone at the top, Utah State will need to sweep this weekend and hope Weber State (12-9, 6-0) loses once in its three-game series at Boise State (a team USU outscored 34 to nine in three games March 29 at home).
Eastern Washington (12-7, 3-3) will be up against an Aggie team that is “exploding” on offense and stagnant on defense, said pitcher Sean Morrissey.
He said the Eagles, along with most other teams on USU’s schedule, are a team the Aggies don’t know much about. But, he says, that’s OK.
“We were able to watch them a little bit last year [at a Weber State tournament, but] I enjoy it because you go in not worrying about certain players and positions,” he said.
Another positive for the Aggies in the weather has been pleasant so far this week, and also should be Saturday and Sunday. Weather.com forecasts temperatures in the mid-60s for those days, a first for USU at home this season.
Western Mountain Conference Standings
1) Weber State University (12-9, 6-0)
2) Utah State University (12-9, 6-0)
3) Eastern Washington University (12-7, 3-3)
4) University of Idaho (2-11, 0-9)
5) Boise State University (2-7, 0-3)
Aggies in the NCBA statistical standings
* First baseman Mark Larsen leads the country in home runs (12, hitting two last weekend) and RBIs (42), and is third in hits (29).
* Left fielder Jared Shepherd is on top in runs scored (34), hits (33) and stolen bases (28, with the second on the list, Stanley Roden of Middle Tennesse State, having 14).
* Pitcher Brock Yancey is third in innings pitched (29) and seventh in strikeouts (25).
* Michael Farr is 10th in wins (3).
-samhis@cc.usu.edu