Utah didn’t get the start to the Mountain West Conference season it had hoped for.
The Utes dropped their first two MWC games to teams that were ranked below them, losing to New Mexico and Colorado State this past weekend.
“We’ve got to be able to play both sides of the game,” said head coach Amy Hogue. “They’ve forgotten how to win. They are competing but they are not finding ways to win.”
This time, the bats weren’t to blame.
Despite the 0-2 weekend, the Utes put more runs in two games than they have in the past seven games combined as they scored 12 runs off 23 hits.
“We’ve really been focusing on that and they hit well,” Hogue said. “We really are starting to gain confidence in the box all the way through the lineup and it’s disappointing to still get losses even though we’re hitting well.”
Utah’s pitching and defense continued to be strong as the Utes committed only one error and gave up only one unearned run all weekend.
Despite playing solid in all areas of the game, timely hitting late in game by the Lobos and Rams gave the Utes a 0-2 start to the conference season.
“Our pitchers are adjusting for me,” Hogue said. “At first, they were walking too many people, now they are throwing strikes and people are hitting the ball. If we are going to lose, I would rather it be that way than because of walks.”
In Thursday’s game against New Mexico, Utah got the bats going right away as eight different Utes registered hits including multi-hit performances from seniors Angie Boardman, Staci Hemingway and Kara Foster.
Solo homeruns by Boardman and Foster gave the Utes a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
After two hits and a Utah error, the bases were loaded and a walk-off grand slam by New Mexico center-fielder Samantha Hughes ended the game and gave New Mexico the 10-7 win.
The situation was much the same on Friday against CSU as the Utes took an early 4-2 lead, but were unable to hold on to that lead when the Rams’ bats came to life late in the game.
Colorado State scored three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to give it a 8-4 lead going into the final inning.
Despite starting out the game with strong batting, the Utes were unable to make the comeback as they scored only one run on three hits in the seventh inning, giving the Rams the 8-5 victory.
“Both teams out-hit us,” Hogue said. “We had the lead in both games and gave it up and that is something we have to get stronger at.”
The Utes were supposed to play Colorado State a second time Saturday, but the game was postponed because of weather and will now be played as part of a doubleheader May 7, when the Rams visit Utah.
Utah has now lost three in a row and will be looking to end its losing streak this week as the Utes face in-state rivals Utah State and BYU.
“It’s the little things that are going to get us wins in close games,” Hogue said. “It’s back to fundamentals.”
The Utes will be back in action on Ute field today for a game against the Aggies, before traveling to Logan on Tuesday to take on the Aggies again in a doubleheader.
“It’s always a good thing to get some midweek games in, especially when you’re struggling, we can actually get back on track going into a weekend against BYU,” Hogue said. “We have an opportunity to remember how to win and I hope they will capitalize on that.”