February 23, 2006

pdf notes 

Opponent: New Mexico 
Dates: February 24-26, 2006 
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico 
Times: 6pm/4pm/1pm
Live Stats: For live stats click HERE
Live Audio: For live audio, by subscription only, click HERE 

What's on Deck ... 
Utah Valley State will try to collect its first series win this weekend when the Wolverines travel to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico. The Lobos are one of four Mountain West teams that UV will play. The others are BYU, Utah and Air Force. This will be the first meeting between New Mexico and Utah Valley State in baseball.

All three games will have Gametracker via New Mexico's website at www.GoLobos.com. Live audio is also available through a subscription service. Links to the broadcast can also be found at the Lobo's website.

The Wolverines are coming off of a big win to salvage the series finale at Fresno State. UV was down 4-1 going into the top of the 9th but scored four runs in the inning to take the lead. Kyle Tash set the Bulldogs down in order in the bottom of the inning to earn the complete game victory.

Utah Valley got some luck with two out in the 9th when Cory Newton's groundball to third was thrown high to first and allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.

Scouting the Opposition ... 
New Mexico is coming off of a 12-6 mid-week loss at home to in-state rival New Mexico State on Tuesday. The Lobos are 5-4 heading into the weekend series.

They took two out of three at Pac-10 powerhouse Arizona last weekend to end a 23 game losing streak to the Wildcats. New Mexico took the first two games of the series (6-5, 7-3) before dropping a 19-16 slugfest on Sunday.

Starters Danny Ray Herrera (2-0, 2.42) and Nate Melek (1-1, 2.45) lead the Lobo staff while Matt Foote was named Mountain West Player of the Week after hitting .375 (6-for-16) at the plate with two doubles, three RBI and six runs scored in four games last week.

Chris Carlson is hitting .324 with four home runs and 13 RBI so far this season while Jordan Pacheco is hitting .324 with one home run. 

Pacheco was named to Collegiate Baseball's All-America Third Team after hitting .408 with 15 homers, 52 RBI and 95 hits as a freshman in 2005. He was also a freshman All-American and All-Mountain West selection.

Hit Streaks Continue ... 
Junior shortstop Eli Slesk is one of three Wolverines to carry consecutive game hit streaks into this weekend's series. Slesk, who ended 2005 with at least one hit in each of last four games, has hit in every game so far this season and currently has an 11-game hitting streak.

Senior second baseman Brad Hales' hit streak is currently at seven games dating back to the final game of 2005. Hales didn't get a hit in Sunday's series finale but got a sacrifice bunt in his only plate appearance of the game to keep his streak alive at seven.

Senior outfielder Nick Connor has a six-game hitting streak dating back to 2005. Connor had at least one hit in the first five games of the season before sitting out the final two games of last weekend's series to rest a sore quad. Connor is doubtful for this week's series at New Mexico but will make the trip.

Tash & Guerrero Solid on Mound ... 
Senior Kyle Tash has been the Wolverines' saving grace so far on the mound. While the rest of the starting staff has struggled, Tash is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA. 

In the final game of the season opening series at Southern Utah, Tash threw seven innings and allowed just two earned runs on four hits. In the finale at Fresno State, Tash threw a complete-game seven-hitter and allowed four earned runs. 

Brett Guerrero has also been reliable out of the bullpen for Utah Valley State. The senior from Moreno Valley, California hasn't allowed an earned run in 5.1 innings of work. 

Up Next ... 
The Wolverines will open their home schedule next Friday and Saturday in a three-game series against Air Force. The two teams are scheduled to meet Friday at 4:00pm before a doubleheader Saturday beginning at Noon.