Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Baseball Notes
5/7/2003 12:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY -
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This Week
The Utes (19-27, 6-17) play a four-game series against Air Force (13-32, 1-22) this Friday-Sunday, May 9-11, at Franklin Covey Field. Friday and Saturday's games begin at noon, while Sunday's game starts at 1 p.m. The two teams will play a twinbill on Saturday to make up a game that was postponed earlier this season in Colorado Springs, Colo., due to snow.
Utah Update
Utah went 0-3 last week against Brigham Young in Provo, falling 17-8, 16-5 and a heartbreaking 7-6 ninth-inning loss on Saturday. It was the first time since the 1992 season, when the Utes dropped all four games at San Diego State, that Utah has been swept by an opponent in a season.
The Utes, who have dropped seven straight, are now 19-27 overall and 6-17 in the Mountain West Conference. The last time Utah lost back-to-back conference series was in 2001, when the Utes dropped road series on consecutive weekends at San Diego State and Brigham Young. The last time the Utes lost seven or more games in a row was 1999, when Utah lost 10 straight.
Sophomore Matt Ciaramella leads Utah this season with a .371 batting average, including .467 in conference games. He has team-bests of 45 runs, 63 hits and 37 RBI. Senior Jake Jordison leads the team with 14 doubles and 10 home runs.
As a team, the Utes are being out-hit by opponents .304 to .300. The Utah pitching staff has a combined ERA of 6.35 on the year, compared to the 5.19 of opponents.
Scouting the Opposition
The Falcons (13-32, 1-22) were swept 25-2, 5-4, 19-6 last weekend by New Mexico. Air Force picked up its first and only conference win of the year, a 3-0 shutout, the previous weekend at home against San Diego State.
On the season, Air Force is out-hit by opponents .349 to .327. The team is led offensively by Josh Phifer with a .422 batting average, 68 hits, 18 doubles 12 home runs and 53 RBI.
The Falcon pitching staff boasts an 8.63 ERA compared to the 7.11 of opponents.
Series Notes
* The Utes lead the all-time series with Air Force 72-35. Utah went 2-0 earlier this season vs. the Falcons in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Utah Pitching Rotation
Utah's probable pitching rotation this week is:
Friday - Clay Westmoreland (RHP, 4-5, 7.06)
Saturday - Doug Mackay (RHP, 4-5, 6.12)
Saturday - Jason Price (LHP, 2-1, 5.09)
Sunday - Sean Overholt (RHP, 0-5, 7.39)
Air Force Pitching Rotation
Air Force's probable pitching rotation for the series is:
Friday - Paul Vignola RHP, 5-6, 9.59)
Saturday - Jason Brown (RHP, 1-2, 9.19)
Saturday - Josh Zumbrun (RHP, 2-2, 4.41)
Sunday - Clayton Couch (RHP, 0-4, 10.26)
MWC Standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct.UNLV 20 4 .833 37 13 .740 New Mexico 16 8 .666 33 18 .647 BYU 14 10 .583 22 20 .524SDSU 14 10 .583 22 26 .458 UTAH 6 17 .261 19 27 .413 Air Force 1 22 .043 13 32 .289
Udy Johnny Bench Watch
Senior Wick Udy is on the watch list for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the top collegiate catcher. Among his highlights this season:
* 18-game hitting streak from Feb. 16 to March 29
* Knocked his second home run of the year in the Utes' loss at BYU on May 2
* Batting .321 with a .981 fielding percentage
Chevalier Oh So Close
In last Saturday's loss at BYU, junior Eric Chevalier was one double away from hitting for the cycle. He tripled to right field in the second, had a bunt single in the fourth, and smacked a home run over the right field fence in the fifth, driving in three runs. He also stole a base in the game.
Martinez Approaches Relieving Records
Sophomore reliever Brady Martinez, who leads the Ute pitching staff with a 2.84 ERA in 16 appearances, has seven saves this season. He needs just one more to tie the school single-season record of eight. In addition, with one save last season as a freshman, he now has eight on his career -- one away from the Utah record of nine.
Ciaramella Named MWC Player of the Week for April 7-13
Utah center fielder Matt Ciaramella, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for April 7-13 after hitting .579 (11-for-19) on the week and leading the Utes to a 3-2 record. He had a 4-for-5 outing with two doubles and three RBI in the Utes' 7-2 win over then-No. 21 UNLV. He was also 3-for-3 with two walks in a game three loss to the Rebels.
Westmoreland Named MWC Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 17-23
Right-hander Clay Westmoreland, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz., was named Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 17-23. In Utah's win over No. 19 Texas A&M, Westmoreland pitched five of seven innings as the Utes upset the Aggies 4-1 in College Station, Texas. He struck out four batters and allowed just two hits and one earned run over five innings.
Jordison Named MWC Player of the Week for Feb. 10-16
Senior first baseman Jake Jordison was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for Feb. 10-16 after posting a .455 batting average as the Utes swept Cal State Northridge, 5-4, 5-4, 7-5. In three games played, Jordison was 5-for-11 from the plate with a double, two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored. Jordison's ninth-inning, two-run home run in game two gave the Utes a 5-3 lead and they held on for the 5-4 victory. He also had a two-run homer in game one.
On Deck
Utah closes out the regular season with a three-game series at UNLV May 15-17. Thursday and Friday's games start at 6:30 p.m. (PDT), while Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m. (PDT).
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