USU baseball opens up conference play with four-game homestand
Throw out its five losses to junior college teams and the Utah State baseball club’s record would be looking a lot better than the 6-9 mark it currently has.
That’s how USU’s coaching staff looks at this weekend’s four home games against Boise State (2-4), which will open Western Mountain Conference play for both teams.
USU and BSU will play Friday at 7 p.m., a double-header Saturday starting at 11 a.m., and one game Sunday at 10 a.m.
Though their record might not show it, the Aggies gained some much-needed momentum after a 3-1 homestand last weekend.
Before last weekend the Aggies had a schedule that would give any coach a headache.
“We were going up against a lot of junior colleges and national contenders,” said pitching coach Jeremy Gordon. “[After last week] we have a definite head of steam going into conference play.”
USU collected 35 runs in last week’s three wins (while holding those three opponents to 14 total runs), thanks to mental toughness, solid pitching and seeing the ball well, Head Coach Ernie Rivers said.
Mark Larsen, Justin Johnson and Jared Shepherd (USU’s one, two and three hitters) were a major part of the success.
Rivers said Larsen went 7-for-12 with three home runs and three RBIs, Johnson 8-for-14 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Shepherd also hit 8-for-14 with five stolen bases and one grand slam.
One of those contests was a 7-6 victory over Western Washington, which Gordon said was one of the most exciting and well contested games he has been a part of.
Gordon said Brock Yancey, who leads the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) in innings pitched (25.33) and is fifth in strikeouts (20), will start Friday night.
Sean Morissey will start game one of Saturday’s double-headers, but Gordon said he is undecided on who will begin the other two games.
“We’re starting to play together as a team and play really well,” Rivers said. “I’m hoping it will continue. All things considered, [6-9] is a pretty good record. We’ve put a lot of runs on the board the last couple games.”
Aggies in the standings
NCBA top 10 statistical categories have a good showing of Aggies.
Tyler Kohlers is seventh in innings pitched (18), eighth in strikeouts (18) and fifth in saves (1).
Larsen is third in home runs (4), seventh in hits (16) and eighth in RBIs (14).
Shepherd is first in stolen bases (14) and triples (3), third in hits (20) and sixth in runs scored (15).
-samhis@cc.usu.edu