Colorado overpowers Utah State baseball club for sweep
Despite being swept in three games by the University of Colorado, Utah State baseball Head Coach Ernie Rivers found plenty to be optimistic about.
After losing 7-3, 5-3 and 6-5, the Aggie club could have hung its hats and found plenty wrong; instead, Rivers and the team learned from the losses and plan to make adjustments.
“This is a different style of club than what I’ve had in the past,” Rivers said. “We were always bombers, hitting home runs all over the park. This year, we’ll have to move the runners around the bases.”
Last year, in a three-game series the club pounded 14 home runs. In this weekend’s series, the team had no round trips.
The team should have won two of the three games but stranded too many base runners, Rivers said.
“I kept waiting for the big bomb to come but it never did,” Rivers said. “This team has good speed, so we’re going to use it. I have to adjust how I coach because we won’t hit homers like we have in the past.”
Rivers admitted he has gotten a little spoiled being able to count on the three-run homer his past teams delivered. This year’s team is going to have to make things happen on the bases.
“This is why we play fall ball,” Rivers said. “I need to learn about my team. They are all different. Playing small ball is a lot of fun and that’s what we’re going to play. We’re going to be OK.”
Pitching has not been a source of concern for Rivers this fall. He said the pitchers threw well again.
“Anytime your pitchers hold a team under eight runs with metal bats you have a chance to win,” Rivers said. “We’re getting that every game from the guys; I’m very pleased.”
In the series, Aggie pitchers showed they were the type that doesn’t give up the long ball. They allowed only 10 balls to reach the outfield in the air during the three games. Most teams allow that many in a single game.
They make the hitters beat the ball into the ground, Rivers said. If a couple more guys show they can pitch so we have enough arms, the team will have a strong staff.
Along with the solid pitching, the Aggie team picked up their defense that abandoned them somewhat against Weber State.
There were a few errors during the series, but the club played better fundamental baseball against the Buffalos, Rivers said.
“We hit our cutoff men and didn’t give them the extra base,” he said. “We’re improving as a team; I feel good about that.”
Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Sean Maynard, who has not been able to pitch since the Boise series because of a sore arm, is happy with the team’s and his progress.
“I’ve been satisfied with what I’ve been doing. I’m starting to get comfortable at the plate and I’m getting in a groove offensively,” he said. “I haven’t made an error at first base and I’m really happy about that. I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.”
He continued his flawless play in the field in all three games against the Buffalos.
Like many of the veteran players on the team, Maynard feels he has to start asserting himself a little more to help the new players learn how to play at this level.
“I just need to be positive and help them along,” he said. “I need to get behind the new guys and show them how to play college baseball.”
Despite missing some scoring chances, Rivers plans to allow the team to keep swinging away with men on base.
“Right now, I think the guys need to swing the bat and see as many pitches as possible,” he said. “We’re improving and that’s what I want to see.”
-eds@cc.usu.edu