Feb. 27, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
OREM, Utah - Utah Valley is scheduled to play the first five of its 19 games this season against in-state schools beginning Thursday at Southern Utah. The Wolverines (0-3-1) will face SUU in Cedar City in a three-game series before traveling to St. George for a quick two-game series at Dixie State on Sunday and Monday.
Bryan Smith (0-0, 3.00) will get the nod in the opener while Marcus Moore (0-1, 4.50) is expected to start on Friday. Dan Christensen (0-1, 9.95) and Aaron Brady (0-0, 9.00) will also get starts on the mound over the weekend.
Utah Valley lost a doubleheader (12-1, 7-2) last Friday at Santa Clara to open the season. On Saturday, the Wolverines suffered a 12-1 loss at Cal in the first game of a twinbill before a rare 8-8 tie in the weekend finale.
Junior second baseman Ryan Jones went 8-for-18 (.444) with two RBI over the weekend while Kai Hatch hit .375 (3-for-8) with a double and a triple in two starts at shortstop.
Southern Utah is an unblemished 2-0 so far with wins over Eastern Michigan (12-8) and Dixie State (6-1). Chester Wilson went a combined 7-for-9 in the wins while starting pitchers Mac Nelson and Dustin Wittwer have combined to throw 12 2/3 innings without allowing a run.
Utah Valley went 5-2 last season over SUU and the two teams have split 22 all-time appearances with 11 wins each.
Dixie State is 6-3 after losing its last two games. to Central Washington and Southern Utah. The Rebels, former junior college rivals of the Wolverines, host Grand Canyon in a three-game series beginning Wednesday prior to hosting UV. Kyle Pratt is batting .414 with a home run and 10 RBI to lead Dixie.
The Wolverines won two out of three last year against the Rebels, the first time the two teams met at the NCAA level.
The Wolverines will travel to Northern California for the River City Classic where they'll face Portland, BYU, Sacramento State and San Jose State.
