Baseball takes two of three over weekend
The Utah State baseball team found their way back into the win column, taking two of three games against Fort Lewis College last weekend.
USU won the first game 11-7, lost the next 15-12 and ran away with the final game 13-4.
“I thought we played well, except for two innings this weekend,” said Head Coach Ernie Rivers. “We let down the first two innings of the second game, but we came back. That’s a good sign.”
Brock Yancey started the first game on the hill for the Aggies and once again had a stellar performance, Rivers said. Throwing into the sixth inning, he left with an 11-2 lead.
“Brock usually throws the first game of a series for us,” Rivers said. “We know what we’re going to get when he throws. I just put him out there and leave him alone.”
The senior right-hander from Teton City, Idaho has been with the club for three years now, is the leader of the pitching staff and is known for his pit bull temperament when on the mound.
“I like to be left alone when I’m pitching,” Yancey said. “I just want to pitch. I don’t need anyone talking to me.
He throws a change-up and curve ball that mix well with a fastball in the mid 80s.
Having such a fiery attitude when he is pitching, one might believe there would be conflicts with a pitching coach having the same demeanor, but it’s not the case at all, he said.
“Jeremy [Gordon] is great to throw for,” Yancey said. “We work well together. He’s smart, he comes out to get me when he knows I’m done. He understands the game.”
Gordon doesn’t say a lot to the pitchers while they are throwing and that works well with the mental approach Yancey has when he is on the mound.
When he’s done throwing, Gordon gives him awhile to unwind and then they talk about the game.
“He understands my mindset when I’m throwing,” Yancey said. “A pitcher needs a coach like that.”
Yancey said he has been satisfied for the most part with the way he has pitched this fall, but feels like he is just now starting to get into a groove and will continue to work out this winter.
“I’ll be ready for spring,” he said. “That’s when it’s for real.”
The club dug themselves a 9-0 hole to start the second game, fought their way back, but couldn’t quite overcome the deficit.
Chris Gorrell hit a two-run double to bring the score within two but that’s as close as the club could get.
“We could’ve folded our tents, but we battled back,” Rivers said. “I thought the players responded well.”
Mike Farr started the game on the mound for the team and, despite the score, pitched well, Rivers said.
Errors in the first two innings gave Fort Lewis a big lead, but Farr worked his way through the trouble and pitched shutout ball his final four innings.
“Mike worked on his game and accomplished what he set out to do,” Rivers said. “He threw really well; our defense just let him down a little bit.”
Justin Mittmeermitt threw for the Aggies in the third game, giving up only two earned runs in six innings.
“Justin threw really well in the last game,” Rivers said. “He did a lot of good things.”
Ty Al-Imari hit the only Aggie home run with a shot over the left center field fence. Caleb Gray went 4-for-7 with a couple of RBIs and Sean Maynard went 5-for-9 with seven RBIs to lead the club in hitting. Rivers said he was surprised the team hit only one home run, and the pitchers gave up only two in three games because the outfield fence was only 315 feet down the left field line.
The team used the weekend to work on playing small ball, stealing 14 bases against Fort Lewis.
“I was really happy with that,” Rivers said. “We stole bases, bunted and did some hit-and-run. It was good to see we can play that type of ball.”
USU wraps up the fall season against the Utah All Stars with a contest Saturday at noon in Providence.
-eds@cc.usu.edu