OCR Text |
Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 6 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 BASEBALL First homer of season boosts Utes' confidence at the moment. Catcher AJ Young is still battling the effects of a concussion he sustained last month in a game against BYU. "We have three starters, guys who would be in our lineup that haven't been in virtually all year," said head coach Bill Kinneberg. "Naturally that's hurt our offensive production, but nobody is feeling sorry for us on that." CHRIS AYERS/The Daily Utah Chronicle Cory Hunt is tagged out as he slides into home plate at Smith's Ballpark. The Utes fell to Arizona 5-2. Ian Smith STAFF WRITER The Utes are still experiencing the struggles that come with three starters being out with injury. Nothing has changed regarding outfielder Tyler Yagi being out for the season because of a torn ACL, and infielder Dallas Carroll is still nursing a collarbone injury and the timetable for his return is unknown TJ Bennett smashes first home run of the season for Utah The Utes must have seen the statistics concerning their offense. They sit at the bottom of the Par-12 in most offensive categories and had yet to hit a home run entering last weekend's series against Arizona. Senior infielder TJ Bennett changed that. With the opening game of the series hanging in the balance, Bennett stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning and blasted Utah's first dinger of 2014. Bennett made it count, as he did it with the bases loaded. The grand slam sealed the deal for the Utes as they captured their first Pac-12 win of the season after waiting for four weeks to get it. Junior infielder Biss Larsen said Bennett's homer not only gave the team the lift it needed to close out that game, but that it helped build confidence toward moving forward. "I mean, obviously it was a turning point in the game," Larsen said. "We were kind of fighting neck and neck up until that point. We've been struggling to get those key hits, so for him to come through like that with guys on really gave us that spark." Pressure of the Pac-12 bothering the Utes? Utah is i-ii in conference play thus far, and many of the games have followed the same script. The Utes will start strong but then allow one big inning from the opponent to ruin their chances for victory. Players recognize the entire team needs play hard for nine innings every game and not just a few frames here and a few frames there. Senior outfielder Braden Anderson said now they have a conference victory, the Utes can't be satisfied with the breakthrough. Every game will matter more now, and the team has to push until the end. They realize the Pac-12 is arguably the toughest baseball conference in the country and that playing elite athletes every game can be difficult, but they don't feel overmatched in any contest. "We try not to separate teams based on who they are and what conference they are in," Anderson said. "It's always more pressure playing against a conference team. It's based on how well you're going to do, and you always want to do well in the [Pac-12]." i.smith@chronicle.utah.edu WOMEN'S TENNIS Utah falls to Arizona, Arizona State on the road Ben Jasarevic STAFF WRITER The 30th-ranked Utah women's tennis team went on the road to take on the Arizona schools over the weekend and returned with two losses, its first two true away losses of the season. The first stop for the Utes was in Tucson to take on the No. 35 Wildcats. Despite having the higher ranking, Utah looked inferior in its matchup with Arizona, dropping the match 7-0. "I feel like we ran into a team that was ranked below us at the time, and they had everything to play for and gain," said head coach Mat Iandolo. "They played with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of emotion. We played a little too tentative and way too defensive." Tereza Bekerova and Paige Miles were leading 7-6 in the No. 1 doubles slot against the Wildcats' Kim Stubbe and Lauren Marker before the match was called because Arizona had already clinched the doubles point. Miles said losing that double point was just the beginning of a downward spiral for the Utes. "We came out slow in the doubles, and after we lost the doubles point, I think some of us were discouraged," Miles said. "They came out ready to fight, and I think they took us by surprise once singles hit." The fight against the Wildcats continued over to singles play, as every Ute player lost their respective match. Additionally, five of the six matches were decided in straight sets. "According to Mat, they visibly wanted it more, and I'd have to agree with him," Miles said. Utah had to have a short memory as it traveled to Tempe to face the Sun Devils the following day. The match against Arizona State started off on a positive note for Utah when the No. 2 doubles duo of Sarah Richter and Luisa da Rosa won their match, giving the Utes an early advantage for the doubles point. Unlike the match with Arizona, Bekerova and Miles got to finish their match in this one, securing the doubles point by winning the No.1 slot, 8-7. Regardless of gathering doubles point, Utah could not keep that lead as it dropped four singles matches, ultimately losing to the Sun Devils by a final score of 4-2. The lone win in singles play came in the No. 5 slot when Miles took down Arizona State's Ebony Panoho in straight sets. In the No. 1 singles slot, Bekerova and the Sun Devils' Stephanie Vlad traded the first two sets, leading to a decisive third set. Unfortunately for the Utes, Bekerova was unable to finish on top in that final set, surrendering the point to Arizona State. Iandolo claims losing that point was crucial in the outcome of the entire match. "Had we won the No. 1 singles, we probably would've won the match, because we were in control in the third singles match," Iandolo said. Senior Callie Craig was leading in that No. 3 singles position in the decisive third set when her match was called off after the Sun Devils secured the victory. Despite dropping two straight matches, Iandolo believes Utah is in great shape to qualify for the NCAA Championships come May. The Utes will next compete when they travel to No. 48 Washington this Sunday. Nasarevic@chronicle.utah.edu STUBBLEFIELD Continued from page 5 We have to practice as if we are going to play against the Seattle Seahawks. My guys know that I am going to be on them and that I expect their best, on the field, off the field, in their personal life, in everything. If I don't, I am only using them." While in the process of filling out the depth chart, a certain pair of wide receivers are under the microscope more than the others — Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott. Anderson was the Utes' leading receiver in the 2013 campaign with 53 catches for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns, while Scott suffered a season-ending ankle injury in last season's opener. Scott is back on the field this spring but has been kept out of live drills toward the end of practices and is not expected to be returning at full strength until the fall. However, just being able to throw the pads back on and to have the return of his best friend, quarterback, Travis Wilson, has been huge for Scott. "It feels great to be back," Scott said. "It has just been a long time to finally put the cleats back on and stuff. I've missed catching touchdowns, but to be honest, just working up a sweat and grinding with these guys is the thing I missed the most." Scott has been looked to as one of the leaders on this football team, and Stubblefield is fully aware of that. However, the new coach is not impressed just yet. "Scott right now could and needs to bring more leadership," Stubblefield said. "Because at the end of the day he is not practicing right now, only half of the time. I have heard of the legend of Kenneth Scott. I have not seen the legend of Kenneth Scott ... I am excited and can't wait until he does do that, but right now, his responsibility is to lead. At times he has been great. At times, he hasn't." b.barlow@chronicle.utah.edu The Daily Utah Chronicle File Photo Paige Miles competes at the Eccles Tennis Center against New Mexico last season. /001.0"ilOWIPWIP*4** , -401plwieBINNIONIONNII PRESTON ZUBAL/The Daily Utah Chronicle Coach Taylor Stubblefield points to junior defensive back during practice. )1r-Follow us on Twitter! IS YOUR twit-tor. co-vniTheOuto-rty El fair Problem: You can't get the courses you need at your own school. Solution: Take ours online. Transfer the 111 credits. Graduate on time. kr. . k, mi University of Phoenix Continuing Education 866.771.2952 phoenix.edu/graduate While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor. The University's Central Administration is located at 1625 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Tempe, AZ 85282. Online Campus: 3157 E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85034. © 2014 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved. i CE-3147 JOB POSTING Win GROUP LEADERS (10.15 kids) for SLC School District After School program II WRITING AS UP TO PAR AS YOUR For GAME a act r.mcdonald@chronicle.utah.edu 19.5 hrs/wk; M-TH 2:30.5:30/6pm and Fridays 12:30-5:30/6pm. Start at $9.50 per hour. Send resume to: heidi.clark@slcschools.org or call 578.8275 U OF U SUMMER STORAGE MUM. Prepay and SAVE!! 5x5 5x10 Ox1 0 Regular Price Reg $40/mo plus $20 admin fee Reg $59/mo plus $20 admin fee Reg $90/mo plus $20 admin fee ci•STOR-N-LOCK .%•cw-SELF STORAGE- $33/M0 no fees w/90 day prepay $43/mo no fees w190 day prepay $52/mo no lees w190 day prepay 1060 No 300 W • @Victory Rd & Beck St 801-359-7200 • stor-n-lock.com/uoful2 access control • video securit • resident m•t • ez access |