Aggies set to take on ISU in opener
Nearing the end of practice, the Aggie baseball team is still hard at work – spread out across the field in the midst of an inter-team scrimmage.
USU head coach Norm Doyle takes the opportunity to tweak some of his batters’ mechanics and make other last-minute adjustments, before the Aggies’ three-game home stand and conference opener this weekend.
The Aggies have not played a game since March 17.
“By the time we finally get out there again,” Doyle said. “It will have been two weeks since we last played a game. That’s why we are doing this tonight. We’re getting more of a game situation, getting our pitcher pitching against live hitting and our hitters against live pitching.”
While the other teams in the Northern Pacific East Conference opened up conference play last weekend, the Aggies had a bye. Utah State was set to travel to Montana for a non-league matchup, but the games were rained out.
USU will play Idaho State this weekend. The Bengals already have three conference wins after sweeping Utah Valley University last weekend.
“It’s a big game,” Doyle said. “Everybody else has some conference games under their belt, but I think we are ready for them. We want to come out and make a statement.”
In order for the Aggies to make that statement, Doyle said he wants his team to play solid baseball.
“We have enough talent – you know, enough pitching and offense,” Doyle said. “It’s just a matter of playing smart.”
USU has a 10-game win streak on the line, but USU center fielder Matt Stranski said the team isn’t looking too far into the future.
“Ten games is something that is really nice and something we want to continue, but we have to take it a game at a time,” Stranksi said. “We’ve got a Friday night game first and then two Saturday games, and if we win all three, that’s our goal. That’s what we are looking for, but Idaho State is a tough team.”
Doyle said he thinks the Bengals may be the Aggies’ toughest conference opponent.
“I thought it was going to be Utah, but I’m thinking it is going to be Idaho State now,” Doyle said.
With a full season of conference play starting up, Stranski said he feels the team is coming together as a whole.
“Our pitching has been really good and our bats have started to come around,” Stranski said.
“We are a lot more confident than we were at the beginning of the season.”
The Aggies have a deeper bullpen now than they’ve had in the past.
“We just go have fun, we aren’t trying to be someone else,” Utah State pitcher Sixto Cabrera said. “This year we have more depth. We have more pitchers now that are capable of going out there and starting the game.”
The staff is anchored by Kyle Durrant, who has three wins on the season and a 3.68 ERA. Cabrera has recorded 25 strikeouts in two games with the club.
“It’s exciting to start at home. We’ve been playing away for a long time, and we can’t wait to play at home,” Cabrera said.
Stranski agreed with his pitcher and said it’s good to be home.
“It’s been nice to be down in warm weather in Mesquite and Arizona,” Stranski said. “But this is what we’ve really prepared for. That’s what really matters. That’s what is going to get us to Oregon and hopefully beyond.”
The Aggies will put their 10-game streak on the line starting 6 p.m. Friday at Providence Field, before a doubleheader Saturday – first pitch is at noon.
“With every game you win, it’s tougher to keep them grounded,” Doyle said. “We have to make sure they aren’t thinking they are better than they really are. We have to keep our goals in sight and realize that any team can beat us.”
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu