Baseball club gets shot at junior college team

Alizabeth Bassett

Fresh off a three-game sweep of Montana State University, the Utah State University club baseball team has been preparing all week to play a four-game series against Salt Lake Community College.

Heading into its series against the Bruins USU has an overall record of 6-8, but is off to a good start in conference play at 6-3.

The team has been on the wining side ever since it has been able to start practicing outside.

“It has been nice to get outside to have some practices,” Head Coach Ernie Rivers said.

The teams will play two games Friday staring at 1 p.m. Play will resume Saturday at noon as the Aggies and Bruins will play another doubleheader.

“These games [against SLCC] will go however our pitching goes,” Rivers said.

The games will be at Cate Field in Salt Lake City. The address is 3462 W. 9000 South.

“Cate Field is a new ball park,” Rivers said. “It cost them a couple million dollars and it is only in its first phase.”

The Bruins belong to the Scenic West Athletic Conference. This includes colleges in Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Idaho. They have won more conference games (17) than any other teams, but have more losses than both Southern Nevada Community College and Dixie College, placing the Bruins in third.

The Aggies’ third baseman and co-captain, Jason Clark, was named the Player of the Week by the National Club Baseball Association. Clark went 5 for 10 against Montana State with three home runs and seven RBI’s.

“He was chosen out of 52 different teams [and] 1,000 some players,” Rivers said.

Clark has tallied 28 RBI’s and six home runs for this season.

“You can see how he is a leader on and off the field,” Rivers said.

Utah State’s next home games will be April 12 and 13 against Boise State.