The Cougar baseball team is hoping that everything really is bigger in Texas, including its scores over its opponents this week.

After last weekend, where the baseball team went 2-1 against UC Davis, BYU is confident it can take on some of their toughest competition of the season.

BYU (2-4) will begin play today against Baylor and Texas A&M, concluding the week with three straight games against Texas-Arlington.

“We’re feeling confident,” BYU shortstop Brandon Relf said. “Our pitchers did very well over at UC Davis, and we’re hoping that they can carry that over into Texas since we’re playing some very competitive and strong teams. We feel that we have the ability and the talent to beat them.”

The team was shaky during its first weekend of play against UC Riverside, but its performance this past weekend against UC Davis has given the players the poise they need to be successful in Texas.

“The jitters are out,” Relf said. “We showed good composure at UC Davis.”

The initial anxiety has now turned into excitement. The only anxiety the team has is getting back out on the diamond and proving they deserve to win.

“Now we know we can play,” pitcher Matthew Neil said. “We know we can hang [with tough competitors].”

“Last year Baylor just beat us by one, so we have revenge coming this year,” Neil said.

Kevin Sloan pitched against UC Davis and is eager to get back on the mound. He described the team going into this week of play as being excited, prepared and intense.

“We’re excited,” Sloan said. “We’re ready to get out there and face some good competition. I think we’ve prepared ourselves really well.”

As far as what it will take to beat their opponents this week, Sloan is focused on building on their recent success.

“I think now that we got a couple wins under our belt we know what it takes to win,” Sloan said. “I think now it just comes down to execution.”

Head coach Vance Law stands behind his team and believes it can compete against the upcoming opponents.

“I’m always optimistic that we’ll continue to improve,” Law said.