Utah Valley at Grand Canyon
Fri., April 17 (6 pm & 8 pm MDT) - Sat., April 18 (7 pm MDT)
Phoenix, Ariz.  |  Stapleton-Pierson Stadium
Live Stats  |  Live Video (Sat. Only)  |  UVU Series Notes
 

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OREM, Utah – Fresh off of an 8-6 come-from-behind win over in-state foe Utah State on Tuesday, the Utah Valley University softball team will return to Western Athletic Conference play at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix this weekend. The three-game league series will begin Friday at 6 p.m. MDT/5 p.m. MST.
 
The series will consist of a doubleheader on Friday evening, and game two of the twin bill is slated to get underway at 8 p.m. MDT/7 p.m. MST. The three-game set will then conclude on Saturday evening with a single game at 7 p.m. MDT/6 p.m. MST.
 
Saturday's finale will air live on the WAC Digital Network and live stats will be available for all three games by visiting GCUStats.com.
 
"Grand Canyon is one of the top teams in our conference and we're anxious to see what they have," said head coach Nikki Palmer. "Now that we have our hitting going, we are excited to get out there."
 
In Tuesday's non-conference win at Utah State, the Wolverines (16-29, 3-6 WAC) were down to their final out trailing by two runs in the seventh. Brittney Vansway and Taleigh Williams then began a two-out rally for UVU with consecutive singles. Pinch-hitter Dynasty Lauvai then delivered the big hit with a three-run go-ahead home run and Hailey Kofler followed with a solo shot to help propel the Wolverines to the 8-6 victory.
 
Prior to Tuesday's in-state win over the Aggies, UVU closed a seven-game homestand by taking one of three from WAC foe Seattle U last weekend. Makayla Shadle helped lead the Wolverines to a 4-2 victory in the middle game of the series as she gave up just two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
 
Bailey Moore leads the Wolverines on the season in the circle with a 10-17 record and a 4.85 ERA. Brianna Gatlin is tops on the team offensively with a .360 batting average, a .613 slugging percentage and a .437 on-base clip. Jaylen Watson is next with a .319 average, and she leads the team in home runs with eight and walks with 21.
 
About Grand Canyon
The Antelopes (25-19) sit in second place in the WAC standings with a 6-3 league record. GCU dropped two out of three to CSU Bakersfield at home last weekend but swept a three-game set over Missouri-Kansas City on the road the previous week.
 
Kayla Henry leads the Lopes with a .401 batting average and seven stolen bases. Haley Walker is next at .388, while Camre Wartman holds a .358 average and a team-best nine home runs and 40 RBIs. Taylor Nowlin paces the Antelope pitching staff with an 11-6 record, three saves and a 3.76 ERA.
 
This weekend's games will mark just the fourth, fifth and sixth all-time meetings between UVU and GCU. The Lopes lead the series, 3-0, after sweeping a three-game set in Orem last year.
 
Up Next for the Wolverines
Utah Valley will conclude its five-game road stretch with a non-conference contest at Idaho State on Tuesday, April 21 in Pocatello. The Wolverines will then return to Orem for their final home series of the season to take on UMKC next weekend (April 24-25).