Utah Valley State (5-10) at UC Davis (8-9)
Location: Davis, California
Date: March 11-13, 2005
Time: 3:00pm MST on Friday, the 11th. 2:00pm MST on Saturday & Sunday the 12th & 13th.
Live Audio: Listen to the game live online by clicking HERE

What's on Tap:
The Wolverines will take on their second D-I Independent opponent this year when they travel to Davis, California for a match-up with the UC Davis Aggies. The three-game series will feature a 3:00 p.m. MST start on Friday followed by 2:00 p.m. MST starts Saturday and Sunday.

Wolverine Update:
Utah Valley State and BYU played game one of a new rivalry on Tuesday in Provo. The schools that sit less than six miles apart battled at Larry H. Miller field in a slugfest that the Cougars won 15-8. Kory Drew and Trent Perry both collected three hits apiece for the Wolverines. While Canyon Vance, Todd Bateman and Nick Connor added two hits each.

The bulk of BYU's scoring came from former Wolverines. Brandon Taylor had 5 RBI including a two out-bases loaded double in the 2nd inning. 11 of BYU's 15 RBI came from former Utah Valley State junior college players.

Beau Giles continued his success on the hill for the Wolverines, pitching 1.2 innings in relief, allowing a hit and striking out two.

Quick Hits:
- Opening Day at Parkway Crossing Stadium is less than two weeks away. The Wolverines host Southern Utah, March 24-26 in a four-game series. The 26th will be a double header.
- Kory Drew leads the team with a .419 batting average and 26 hits and is tied with Trent Perry for the team lead in home runs (4).
- Trent Perry's four home run, 16 RBI weekend in Colorado garnered him national attention. The senior was named CollegeBaseballInsider.com's National Player of the Week. He was also named Division-I Independent Player of the Week.
- Beau Giles is the team leader with a 2.84 ERA in 12.2 innings of work.
- Utah Valley State is 2-0 so far this year vs. other Division-I Independents.

Live Audio:
This weekend's games and many of the remaining games on the Wolverines' schedule can now be heard live on the internet at www.wolverinesports.net.

Any former Utah Valley State players interested in doing color commentary for a few innings during a home game at Parkway Crossing Stadium would be welcome to do so. If you are willing and able please contact Clint Burgi at burgicl@uvsc.edu or Nate Mathis at mathisna@uvsc.edu.

Fellow Independents:
The Wolverines will take on their second Division-I Independent opponent in UC Davis. They are scheduled to play eight total independent games against North Dakota State, UC Davis and Northern Colorado during the 2005 season. Without a conference to call home, the games against fellow independent schools can be considered somewhat of a measuring stick for the Wolverines.

Earlier in the season at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, Utah Valley State beat independent North Dakota State twice, 10-0 and 8-2.

Good Forecast: 
It's looking like Mother Nature will more than cooperate when the Wolverines and Aggies go at it in Northern California this weekend. According to weather.com, the forecast for the weekend is mid to upper 70's and mostly sunny all three days of scheduled action.

Scouting the Opposition:
UC Davis:
The Aggies last played at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu where they went 2-3. UC Davis has faced some tough competition already this year, including Oregon State, the current #23 ranked team in the nation.

The Aggies are 8-9 coming into the weekend series and are 1-0 vs. other Division-I Independents, having beaten Sacramento State 5-2 earlier in the season. They boast a strong pitching staff, holding a 3.08 team ERA. Seven pitchers on the staff have ERA's under 3.00, including Dave McKae who is 3-1 with 2.48 ERA in five starts. McKae has struck out 27 batters in 29 innings and given up only 19 hits. Opponents are only hitting a chilly .188 against him as well.

Brandon Oliver leads the team in hitting with a .380 batting average while Daniel Descalso is hitting .353 with the team's only home run and 16 RBI. The Aggies are coached by Rex Peters, who is in his 3rd season at Davis. In 2003, Peters guided the Aggies to the NCAA D-II World Series.

What's on Deck:
Following the weekend series with UC Davis, the Wolverines will next take on Washington State in Pullman, Washington March 18-20 in a four-game series.

In last week's Banana Belt Tournament, the Wolverines handed the Cougars their only loss of the tournament, 6-4, behind a strong performance on the mound from Jed Jensen. After the series at WSU, the Wolverines will be back in Utah for a match-up in Provo against BYU on the 22nd, followed by opening weekend at Parkway Crossing Stadium, as they take on Southern Utah in a four game series.