Aggies Baseball Club Now Region Champs

For the first time in five years, the Utah State University Baseball Club clinched a regional title on Sunday.

The team’s 5-3 win over the Oregon Ducks means the Northern Pacific Regional Champions will head to South Carolina for a chance to become National Club Baseball Association World Series champions for the first time since 2014, when now head coach Jake Anderson played first base.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to take a team back when I’m coaching,” he said. “The World Series was always a highlight of my experience playing … so to be able to take back 20 players, it's incredible. When we won the other day, just seeing the smiles on everybody's faces and knowing what they were going to experience here in a couple of weeks, it’s an even better feeling than I had as a player.”

The Aggies, seeded at No. 3, will open the NCBA Division I World Series in South Carolina at 10:30 a.m. on May 27.

In addition to facing the University of Michigan Wolverines in game one, the Aggies could have a shot at some of the top teams in the nation, including Penn State University, East Carolina University, and Florida State University.

Following their sweep in the post-season to become conference and regional champs, the Aggies have an overall record of 23-3 and will enter nationals on a 19-game winning streak.

“This is probably the most complete team from top to bottom — offensively, defensively and pitching — all three aspects our team is really good at, and we average a little over 10 runs per game,” Anderson said. “Hopefully we can continue having success and represent the university well this year.”

For the team’s four seniors — Kesler Nelson, pitcher; Jacob Pullen, pitcher and outfielder; Braden Rawlin, outfielder and catcher; and Wyatt Sorenson, second base, shortstop and pitcher — the World Series will mark the final chapter of their time with the club.

Because baseball at USU is a club sport and not a school-sanctioned team, the players have to fund everything from uniforms to game travel, including heading out to the national championship, so the team is currently fundraising to get to South Carolina. Those wishing to contribute can do so via Aggie Funded.

Games will be livestreamed on the NCBA Facebook group.