After winning two of three games against UCLA in the new softball stadium, Utah hopes to add two more wins against Weber State (6-29, 2-7, Big Sky) in a doubleheader today.
Utah (16-20-1, 3-9 Pac-12) will face the Wildcats starting at 4 p.m., and its second game begins right after the first at 6:30 p.m.
Utah is coming off their first Pac-12 series victory of the year and in team history. Weber State University will be a drop-off from UCLA’s talent level, and a Utah team fighting to reach .500 can’t afford to drop games against the Wildcats.
“Our plan is still to attack,” said head coach Amy Hogue. “I mean, it’s going to be different pitching. We’ve been seeing 65 to 70 miles per hour in the circle, and tomorrow it will be anywhere from 55-58. We have to stay disciplined between our feet. If we get off balance, if we can’t handle that speed, then you know it will be tough.”
Although Utah isn’t overlooking the Wildcats, Weber State hasn’t played stiff competition or had a single conference win on the road. Weber State is currently riding an eight-game losing streak.
However, the Utes have lost to lesser teams in the past. Utah Valley University looked to be an easy win after the Utes beat the Wolverines once already in Orem, but UVU surprised Utah with a 4-1 upset. The Utes have the advantage of playing at home, and the team’s hitters have improved over the past two series. After Oregon’s thrashing, the Utes responded by beating UCLA 7-4 and 8-3 — a welcome improvement from a lacking offense.
Utah’s offense clicked against the Bruins, but Utah has struggled at the plate. Hogue said the team will focus on consistent offense throughout the game, rather than relying on a one-run inning.
“If we play clean defense and put up two big numbers, which we did on the last day against UCLA, then you beat a team pretty solid,” Hogue said.
Senior second baseman Jackie Sweet is riding a 13-game hitting streak, and sophomore Kate Dickman is leading the league in triples against Pac-12 opponents. Because of Sweet’s 11-of-20 performance against Oregon and UCLA, she is the first Ute to ever earn Pac-12 Player of the Week honors.
“I think everyone is just having fun, and that is the biggest thing,” Sweet said. “Playing loose and having fun, that is when you’re going to perform your best.”
Playing a Big Sky opponent in the middle of the Pac-12 conference slate allows the Utes to hone their fundamentals.
“We haven’t focused on Weber, we’ve just focused on ourselves,” Hogue said. “So what we do tomorrow is going to be more about going with our strengths and really nothing about defending them, because if we play our level of game, then the scoreboard should take care of itself.”