This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sure, call it a comeback. Several comebacks, actually.
Something that hasn't been said often: Utah baseball (10-14, 7-2 Pac-12) is winning, and it is winning in thrilling fashion. The Utes just recorded their first-ever league series sweep in the Pac-12 era, and incredibly, they trailed Arizona in all three games through six innings.
Sunday afternoon brought the latest big win for Utah, which scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kody Davis tied up the game at 2-2 with an RBI single, then DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit the go-ahead double that scored Davis and Cole Taylor to give the Utes the eventual 4-2 win.
Utah also notched 6-3 and 7-6 wins on Friday and Saturday, respectively, giving them a sweep of the Wildcats at Smith's Ballpark this weekend. http://bit.ly/25uYg3x";>Adding to two road series wins to begin conference play, Utah is the hottest team in the Pac-12.
At 7-2 in league play, the Utes are tied with Cal for first place and already have clinched as many Pac-12 wins as they ever have in an entire season. In league games, the Utes are fourth in batting average (.254), fourth in ERA (3.65) and second in fielding percentage (.991).
Starter Jayson Rose has been lights-out with a 1.66 ERA this season and a conference-best 27 strikeouts in only three Pac-12 games. Freshman Keirsey has been a sparkplug as well at the plate, leading the team with a .325 average and 10 runs in Pac-12 games.
The top indictment of Utah so far is an ugly 3-12 non-conference record, including a loss at home to UVU last week. The Utes play the Wolverines again on Tuesday night, this time down in Utah County. They resume Pac-12 play Friday on the road with a series at USC (12-14, 3-3 Pac-12).
Utah's Poeltl, Rodriguez accept awards at Final Four sites
Both men's and women's basketball were represented at the men's Final Four in Houston and the women's Final Four in Indianapolis, respectively this weekend.
Sophomore center Jakob Poeltl was in Houston to accept http://bit.ly/1ROvvaT";>the Pete Newell big man of the year award, chosen by the NABC. The award was given at the NABC awards show at a local theater, and Poeltl apparently dressed for the part:
Congrats to https://twitter.com/JakobPoeltl">@JakobPoeltl; for winning the NABC Big Man Award. I wish the https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockets?src=hash">#Rockets; land him in this years draft! https://t.co/HAqtu9ah1C">pic.twitter.com/HAqtu9ah1C
— Mark Wilson (@shsumark) https://twitter.com/shsumark/status/717075400136859648">April 4, 2016
Meanwhile, senior guard Danielle Rodriguez also received recognition for being on the http://bit.ly/1POsne3";>WBCA Allstate Good Works Team, which recognizes community service. Rodriguez participated in a service project at an Indianapolis hospital, and was recognized during the Washington-Syracuse Final Four game.
She caught up with one of the judges who selected her, WNBA star Tamika Catchings:
Making and handing out journals to the patients at the hospital wasn't the only highlight of my day. https://twitter.com/Catchin24">@Catchin24; https://t.co/kuD46ZiwJJ">pic.twitter.com/kuD46ZiwJJ
— Danielle Rodriguez (@doubledee_22) https://twitter.com/doubledee_22/status/717032458953351168">April 4, 2016
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon