Mercy rule invoked in big baseball win
sports senior writer
Utah State pitcher Kyle Durrant said he felt he was on top of his game during the Utah State home opener on Friday.
“I had to focus early to even come close to a perfect game,” Durrant said. “I felt like I was in control of the game.”
Durrant threw a five-inning perfect game in the Aggies’ 15-0 victory over Utah Valley University. The starter struck out 12 batters in the game and retired 15 straight batters. Three batters were able to hit the ball in play.
Utah State head coach Norm Doyle said his pitcher was fun to watch.
“He was outstanding,” Doyle said. “He had complete control and was absolutely, totally dominant.”
Durrant received run support from his teammates.
“We’re hitting really well,” Durrant said.
The Aggies scored 11 runs in the first three innings, putting two on the board in the bottom of the first. Utah State added six runs in the second and three in the third. Another three runs in the fourth inning secured the win for USU.
“We work together and have high expectations of each other,” Durrant said.
The Aggies were led offensively by catcher Brent Jensenr, who hit for two doubles in three at-bats. Jensen and third baseman Robert Garrett each had four RBIs in the game.
Utah State’s win puts the team at 10-4 overall with its four losses coming at the hands of junior college scholarship programs.
The Aggies have won 10 straight, giving them a national ranking of 42 in the National Club Baseball Association.
“We have to keep up the pace,” Durrant said. “Baseball is a streaky game. Hopefully we can keep ours up.”
Doyle agreed with his pitcher.
“We have to not get too caught up in ourselves,” he said. “We need to focus on all the little things.”
The Aggies are back on the diamond at the University of Montana on March 24-26.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu