Nevada splits series
First baseman Shaun Kort hit two home runs against Fresno State. Photo by Brian Bolton/Nevada Sagebrush
The Wolf Pack’s split against Fresno State last weekend exemplifies the way Nevada’s season has gone. In Nevada’s two victories, it scored 31 runs while holding Fresno State to 10 runs and committed only one error.
However, in the two losses, Nevada managed just six runs on offense while starting pitchers Chris Garcia and Brock Stassi walked six batters and the team committed three errors.
The Wolf Pack also botched several routine plays, including overthrowing first baseman Shaun Kort and allowing runners to reach base safely.
“We didn’t do ourselves any favors,” head coach Gary Powers said. “We had opportunities to make some defensive plays and we didn’t make them.”
Although Nevada was happy to win a pair of games against the Bulldogs, the players were disappointed with the way the team finished the series on Sunday.
Wolf Pack shortstop Kevin Rodland was less than ecstatic with Nevada’s showings in its first two conference series.
“We’re in a place where we should have won three or four more games,” Rodland said. “It goes back to discipline and focus. I feel like when we’re successful we’re really focused, and sometimes we let that go a little.”
HOT WEEKEND FOR KORT
In a lineup full of big hitters like left fielder Brian Barnett and Rodland, it was Kort’s time to shine against Fresno State.
Kort was 8-for-8 and added six runs batted in the first three games of the series.
The highlight of Kort’s weekend came in the second game of the series.
He went 5-for-5 with two home runs as the Wolf Pack won the game 17-6. During the game, Kort had five RBIs as the Wolf Pack used a 10-run sixth inning to pull away from the Bulldogs.
“I tried to simplify things,” Kort said. “I just tried to get the ball into the air and take some good swings and I got rewarded.”
Kort is third on the team in batting average, hitting .381, and now has six home runs on the season.
HAWAII NEXT ON PACK’S PLATE
Nevada’s series against Hawaii may seem easy on paper. The Warriors are 4-8 in conference play and are coming off a split series against Louisiana Tech. But Hawaii took three of four games against then-ranked Oregon earlier this season.
“Hawaii’s a tough place to play,” Powers said. “They are a totally different team at home than on the road.”
Although Hawaii has struggled to gain momentum since the start of the conference season, players are well aware that the Warriors are capable of beating some of the best teams in the country.
“They are a good team at home,” Rodland said. “We’ve seen the teams they’ve beaten this year. They’re a good team.”
Lukas Eggen can be reached at leggen@nevadasagebrush.com.
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