1-7 baseball team loses games by average of three runs
A 0-3 weekend may seem like a big disappointment, but for the NDSU baseball team, it is just another thing to learn and build on.
The Bison, who lost three games to No. 24 Wichita State last weekend, has been playing tough against its stiff competition so far at the start of the young season. In its seven losses, the Bison have lost by an average of just more than three runs.
Head coach Mitch McLeod expects his players to keep the intensity up during their current spring break trip.
“ With the games we’ve played under our belts, I expect the team to be ready to play well and compete at a high level,” McLeod said.
Execution of pitching, defense and hitting is what McLeod has emphasized all year for his squad. If they expect to win close games, the Bison must stay consistent in all three aspects.
“ When playing tougher teams you have to make fewer mistakes in those areas, and we are playing very good baseball teams,” McLeod said.
One player who has done a good job in all three areas is sophomore shortstop Matt Mossey. Mossey, who led the team in hitting last year, is currently at the top, again with a .323 average after the first eight games. He also has the only Bison home run, a grand slam against Portland in the second game of the year.
Mossey got the job done not only at the plate, but also in his only appearance on the mound. Although he got tagged with the loss against an experienced California Davis team, Mossey gave up only two unearned runs in eight solid innings.
“ He’s an outstanding baseball player with a lot of talent defensively, offensively and as a pitcher,” McLeod said of Mossey.
Mossey understands he needs to maintain his level of play all year and keep the other players going as well, if the Bison plan on having more success.
“ I expected to be one of our main guys this year,” Mossey said. “I am going to continue to work hard and help lead our team to victory.”
NDSU’s current road trip will again bring plenty of challenges. The team will spend its spring break not on the beach, but on the ball fields of some very competitive Division I teams.
The Bison are playing Kentucky today, Saturday and Sunday, then traveling to Creighton for games Tuesday and Wednesday. NDSU will then finish up the road trip with three games at Kansas State starting Friday, March 17.
“ Being on the road for that long is both physically and mentally tough, but getting a chance to beat some of these teams is worth it,” Mossey said.
McLeod expects the team to play hard during the trip, and if that happens, maybe some of the team’s close games can turn into wins.
“ I expected to be one of our main guys this year,” Mossey said. “I am going to continue to work hard and help lead our team to victory.”
NDSU’s current road trip will again bring plenty of challenges. The team will spend its spring break not on the beach, but on the ball fields of some very competitive Division I teams.
The Bison are playing Kentucky today, Saturday and Sunday, then traveling to Creighton for games Tuesday and Wednesday. NDSU will then finish up the road trip with three games at Kansas State starting Friday, March 17.
“ Being on the road for that long is both physically and mentally tough, but getting a chance to beat some of these teams is worth it,” Mossey said.
McLeod expects the team to play hard during the trip, and if that happens, maybe some of the team’s close games can turn into wins.