Utah Valley State (17-15) vs. University of Utah (13-26)
Location: Provo on Tuesday, May 4/Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 5
Date: May 4 (Provo), May 5 (SLC)
Times: 7:00 pm (May 4), 2:00 pm (May 5)
Site: Larry H. Miller Field (May 4), Ute Field (May 5)
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: None
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
May 3, 2004
OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley State baseball team faces the University of Utah (13-26) twice this week. On Tuesday, the Wolverines (17-15) will host the Utes, for a 7:00 pm game at BYU's Larry H. Miller Field. The following day, Wednesday, May 5, UVSC will travel to Salt Lake City for a 2:00 pm game at Ute Field.
Wolverine Update:
The Wolverines split a two game series with Northern Colorado last weekend in Greeley. In the first game, UVSC committed five errors, which led to 13 unearned runs, in a 22-9 loss. Jason Ward suffered the loss on the mound, falling to 3-3. He threw four innings, giving up 10 runs, only two of which were earned, on nine hits, while striking out five. Canyon Vance led the way offensively with a 4-for-5 day. Four other UVSC hitters had multi-hit days, including Jeremy Harris, who was 3-for-5 with three runs. Reno Mendenhall went 2-for-4, with a homerun. Jeff Broadhead rounded out the multi-hit club with a 2-for-5 day.
In the second game on Sunday, UVSC rallied for a wild 16-12 win over UNC. Jed Jensen (4-3) earned the win, pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out five. Harris finished the day 5-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Mendenhall went 4-for-6 with a double, a homerun, four runs scored and four RBI.
Mendenhall and Harris were both nominated for Division I Independent Baseball Awards after their performances this week. Mendenhall was nominated for Player of the Week honors, while Harris was nominated for Newcomer of the Week honors (for Freshman or Transfers).
Utah dropped three games at BYU last week. The Cougars have now beaten the Utes 13 straight times leading back to last year. Matt Ciaramella continues to lead Utah offensively. He is hitting at a .350 clip, with 8 homeruns and 42 RBI. The Utes are hitting .291 as a team.
Wolverine Probable Starters:
Catcher: Jeff Broadhead (.407, 9 RBI) or Dan Bulow (.338, 9 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
First Base: Trent Perry (.255, 6 HR, 21 RBI)
Second Base: Pepe Jones (.315, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
Shortstop: Jeremy Harris (.278, 1 3B, 12 RBI)
Third Base: Reno Mendenhall (.358, 11 2B, 19 RBI, 12 SB)
Left Field: Todd Bateman (.387, 4 2B, 3 RBI) or Kevin Hashimoto (.233, 3 2B, 6 RBI)
Center Field: Canyon Vance (.314, 3 3B, 23 RBI)
Right Field: Jed Jensen (.298, 4 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI) or Todd Bateman (.387, 4 2B, 3 RBI)
Designated Hitter: Josh Hinckley (.402, 7 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBI) or Dan Bulow (.338, 9 2B, 3 HR 18 RBI)
Probable Pitching Rotation:
Tuesday's Starter: Jed Jensen, RHP (4-3, 5.05 ERA)
Wednesday's Starter: Jason Ward, RHP (3-3, 4.37 ERA)
Home Away From Home:
The Wolverines will play all their home games at Brigham Young University's Larry H. Miller Field due to the construction of Parkway Crossing Stadium.
Parkway Crossing Stadium:
The future home of Wolverine Baseball will be a long awaited 3.5 million dollar stadium to be built and ready for the 2005 campaign. Parkway Crossing Stadium will have primary grandstand area seating of 2,500. An additional 2,500 fans can throw down blankets on the grass berming down the left field line extending behind the left field wall. The unique design will follow the trend of several of the major league fields that have been constructed recently with different angles and corners down the lines and in the gaps around the outfield wall. The field dimensions will challenge opposing hitters in the gaps expanding to 449 feet in left-center and 413 feet to right-center. The center field wall will be 435 feet away. Directly down the left field line will be 325 feet with a 16-foot wall to contend with, and the short porch directly down the right field line is 307 feet, but immediately gets deeper toward the right-center field gap. The convenient location just off the I-15 will allow baseball fans to enter and exit the stadium quickly. The stadium will also be host to future high school state tournaments and Division I college tournaments and post-season play.
On Deck:
The Wolverines will play the Utes two more times next week. On Tuesday, May 11 in Provo at 7:00 pm, and on Wednesday, May 12 at 2:00 pm in Salt Lake City.
