Softball to play fourth and final pre-conference tournament
Three pre-conference tournaments down, one to go.
The Utah State University softball team will be playing in its fourth tournament of the year, the 2002 Capital Classic Softball Tournament hosted by Sacramento State University, Thursday through Sunday.
The tournament will consist of 15 teams divided into three pools of five.
First on the schedule for the Aggies on Thursday is the No. 4 University of Nebraska Huskers, followed by Long Island University. The Aggies will continue play Friday against No. 25 University of Wisconsin and St. Mary’s University.
Play Saturday and Sunday will consist of single-elimination to determine the tournament winner. Teams losing in the first round will be placed in a single-elimination consolation bracket.
Since starting their season Feb. 8, the Aggies have competed in tournaments or road games before having the past 10 days off from play, though practice has continued.
Head Coach Debbie Bilbao said the time off has been helpful for the team and has given them time to rest and recover from minor injuries.
“It’s good for the girls,” Bilbao said. “It gives them time to catch up on their studies and the little things that students do.”
Additionally, Bilbao said the time off was important for the team because it was the last week the team has off until the end of the season.
Although the Aggies are currently 1-15 on the season, Bilbao said tournament play has been important in preparing for Big West Conference play, and the Aggies have been getting better with each tournament.
The Aggies have had six one-run games this season, winning only one, but Bilbao said much of the problem has been getting the team mentally tougher.
“We are on the verge of winning,” Bilbao said. “We just have to learn to take the game when we have the opportunity.”
She said the Aggies have played some tough competition and are gaining confidence; they just need to improve in some areas.
One area the team has been focusing on is pitching, Bilbao said.
She said the team has being giving up too much with two outs or while ahead in the count, but the pitching is getting better.
Freshman Lindsay Janssen has pitched the most innings for the Aggies, and though Bilbao said she didn’t anticipate having Jansen pitch as much, it has been good for Janssen.
“You take your lumps as a freshman, and it’s more obvious at pitcher,” Bilbao said. “[Janssen] is getting experience and it is paying dividends.”
Bilbao said the team is working toward having three consistent pitchers in Janssen, Kristin Hommel and Xochitl Ramirez, and slowly they are getting there.
Another area of focus for the Aggies has been hitting.
Bilbao said the team had not done a lot of work on hitting in the past, and she has made a lot of changes.
“I completely changed everything,” Bilbao said. “I demand a lot mentally and physically.”