Excellent start to Big12 season for Cougs. 3-3 and all three losses by one run.

Quick recap of Cincy series:

1) Weather looked to be cold and windy. This likely resulted in unfavorable hitting conditions.
2) SP. Decent outing for Gubler. Couldn't make it out of the fifth. Great start for Sumner. Six solid innings. Bad start for Harris. Five hits and five BBs in three IP.
3) For the three games BYU outscored Cincy 15-12. In six Big12 games 37-35 advantage.
4) Awesome effort by bullpen. Especially true with Coon out. If I added it up right bullpen went 12.1 IP, 8 Hits, 10/5 K/BB and only two ER.
5) Numerous mental, physical and tactical errors in this series. Terrible attempt to score tying run when thrown out by ten feet, wrong fielder trying to catch popups, over sliding bases, etc
6) Could easily have been three game sweep.

WV series this week:

1) WV is a legit good team. Per RPI (for what it is worth) #27. Third in Big12 RPI. Cougs at #75. A series win would get some attention.
2) Weather seems like it will be decent but not really warm.
3) As always, SP will be huge factor. Gubler has been solid. 3.12 ERA and almost six IP per start. Sumner has been up and down. 5.52 and five IP per start. I think we may well see a new
face as the third SP. Need the SP to get at least five IP each.
4) Might need to move Robinson down in the order. Hard to have a #2 hitter with a 228/348/424 (and falling) slash line. Maybe try to get him hitting as he was earlier by removing some
pressure.
5) Looks like Painter will play consistently as DH or OF unless he stops hitting. Has been really good to date in limited PA.
6) Easton Jones has continued to struggle. Didn't play game 3 of Cincy series. Hopefully a minor injury. Would be major boost to team if he can break out.
7) Hopefully get Coon back at some point in near future. Makes a big difference in bullpen.
8) Overall bullpen has been solid. Coon, Reiser, Johnson, Ficklin, and Bell all with ERAs under 3.50. Sterner and Marx both had great outings vs Cincy. Cushing shows signs of getting it back
9) Vest is one of the better hitters in recent BYU history. Just killing it this year. Many clutch hits as well.
10) There are 14 Big12 teams with BB programs. BYU was picked #14 in preseason poll. Seems they should finish #6-10 to me. A series win here would be a major push forward.

GO COUGS!!