Cougs Need More Strikes
The strike zone is shrinking.
As is Washington State’s winning percentage.
And, not surprisingly, so is the confidence of the guys on the mound.
Cougars coach Steve Farrington knows his pitchers are going to have to deal with the first item or the latter two will continue to dwindle.
“The plate has been a little tight,” he said. “And being in the conference now, that’s to be expected.
“We need to do a better job of extending the zone.” Farrington continued. “We are not strikeout pitchers. We have to be able to throw the ball where we want, when we want.”
That means, starting with this weekend’s three-game homestand with Arizona (26-16, 7-8), the Cougars must hit some corners, get some batters to chase the breaking balls and, most importantly, go after the hitters.
None of that has happened in recent weeks and, as a result, the Cougars’ staff has not only taken a beating on the field, but in the Pac-10 statistics as well. The Cougars (17-16, 1-8) are eighth in ERA (6.76), last in total batters struck out (209), seventh in fewest home runs allowed (46), tied for eighth in fewest triples allowed (13) and are giving up the highest opponent batting average (.312).
“We have got to throw more first-pitch strikes and really challenge the hitters,” Farrington said. “We are a little tentative early instead of just going right after people.”
The Cougars never really got ahead in the count at Arizona State. They wound up surrendering 40 runs and three losses.
Another loss was added on Tuesday night against Lewis and Clark State. So after starting 15-5 and earning a No. 29 ranking, the Cougars have dropped 11 of 13. They are in last place in the Pac-10 with a 1-8 conference record.
While all the blame cannot and should not be placed on the pitchers, Farrington knows, his three starters, Wade Parrish (4-3, 4.45 ERA), Jamaal Gaines (2-3, 7.15 ERA) and Todd Meldahl (3-2, 5.07 ERA), are going to have to turn around the Cougars’ fortunes.
“We’ve got a pitching staff that can stop anybody,” the coach said. “I’ve told the guys: `Sometimes you overdo things. And maybe in this case we are overpitching. You just really need to stick to the type of pitcher that you are.”’
But getting back to the form that led the Cougars to dominating early season pitching performances and wins, may not be as easy a pep talk and pat on the back.
All the starters are struggling mentally and physically.
Parrish has a calf injury. Meldahl had his shoulder and back tighten up against Arizona State. And Gaines has been plagued with back problems.
On the mound, Arizona is scheduled to go with Ben Diggins (6-5, 5.86 ERA) today, Josh Pearce (5-4, 6.04 ERA) Saturday and Michael Crawford (3-4, 5,48 ERA) on Sunday.
Gonzaga
After dropping four in a row, to Portland and WSU, the Bulldogs have had a reversal of fortune. They swept San Diego over the weekend and beat the No. 2-ranked NAIA team, Lewis and Clark State, on Wednesday.
The three-game sweep of the Toreros was the first ever by the Bulldogs and only their second against a West Coast Conference team from California. They swept Saint Mary’s in 1996. The 40 runs GU scored against USD were also the most the Zags have ever posted in a three-game WCC series. The 17 runs in the series finale were the most scored in a 1999 WCC game.
Shortstop Bo Hart was one of the main ingredients in the Bulldogs’ hitting attack against San Diego. The senior hit .400 with two home runs, two doubles, scored six runs and drove in five.
He raised his average to .315 and was named WCC Player of the Week.
“Those were four quality wins for us,” said GU coach Steve Hertz. “Now we have to continue to swing it well on the road. We do that and life is a little more sunny.”
The Bulldogs (15-14-1) travel to Saint Mary’s for a three-game series beginning Saturday. They will play San Francisco on Monday to make up a game that was postponed when several Bulldogs were injured in an auto-pedestrian accident.
Senior Steve Bennett (4-0) continues to pace the Bulldogs on the mound. The right-hander only allowed one earned run over six innings against USD.
Whitworth
The Pirates will make a short road trip to L-C State on Saturday. Whitworth has taken on the Warriors twice this season, winning the first game 2-1 and dropping the second 7-4.
Last weekend the Pirates (13-19, 9-6) scored 31 runs to win the three-game series against Puget Sound, 2-1.
Nate Lynch continues to lead the Pirates at the plate. The junior is second in the Northwest Conference in home runs (9), fourth in RBIs (34) and sixth in batting average (.406).