BYU’s Mason Olson pitches as BYU and Utah play a baseball recreation in Provo on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. BYU gained 7-0. The Cougars open up WCC play this week in Los Angeles. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
The BYU baseball staff is heading into West Coast Convention play on a optimistic be aware.
On Tuesday, the Cougars snapped a four-game shedding streak with a one-hit, 7-0 shutout victory over rival Utah at Miller Park.
“Anytime you win, and win the way in which we did (towards the Utes), it’s a confidence-builder. Hopefully, we will begin believing that and carry some momentum into convention play.” — BYU coach Trent Pratt
Now BYU (5-10) enters its remaining season within the WCC with a collection that begins Thursday towards Loyola Marymount (7-8) in Los Angeles at George C. Web page Stadium.
“Anytime you win, and win the way in which we did (towards the Utes), it’s a confidence-builder,” stated BYU coach Trent Pratt. “Hopefully, we will begin believing that and carry some momentum into convention play.”
The Cougars had been picked to complete third within the league within the preseason ballot, however BYU has skilled its struggles this season.
“Up and down,” Pratt stated, describing the marketing campaign thus far. “We’ve had good moments and dangerous moments. We’ve performed seven innings good after which possibly misplaced a lead late within the recreation. There’s some inexperience on the mound and a few inexperience in spots.”
Earlier than the Utah recreation, Pratt tried to set a tone together with his gamers.
“We hadn’t performed nice at occasions. However we had performed good baseball at occasions; possibly simply hadn’t carried out a few proper issues to win,” Pratt stated. “We stated, ‘Hey, we’ve gotta play higher. We’ve gotta play higher protection. We will’t make errors and we will’t give groups possibilities when now we have a lead.
“We’ve gotta put ’em away.’ That was it. Simply allow them to know that we believed in them. I imagine we’re higher than our report reveals. They confirmed that they will do it at this time.”
Cougar pitcher Mason Olson, who began towards Utah and pitched 4 scoreless innings, stated Tuesday’s victory helped his staff really feel “assured” getting into WCC play.
“We’re excited for it,” Olson stated. “We’re able to be carried out with the preseason and switch the web page.”
BYU has been with out infielder Brock Watkins, who suffered a hamstring harm. The Cougars are hoping to have him again within the lineup quickly.
“With Brock Watkins being damage, some guys have needed to step in and do some issues,” Pratt stated. “We’re going to maintain taking part in laborious and we’re going to discover a approach to get it carried out and get it going.”
Contemporary off a win over Utah, which halted a four-game shedding streak, the Cougars are optimistic shifting ahead.
“It’s good to enter convention with that,” stated Olson.