ON DECK
Utah Valley University closes out its 2017 home schedule with a three-game WAC series against conference leader Grand Canyon University. The series begins on Friday with a 6 p.m. MT first pitch. Game two on Saturday features the same starting time and will air on the WAC Digital Network. Sunday's home finale is set for noon MT. 

IN THE HOLE
Next week UVU plays at BYU on Tuesday, May 16 in the final non-conference game of the year before traveling to Seattle University for the final WAC series. 

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley was swept at home by a hot New Mexico State team that completed a 4-0 week after knocking off in-state rival New Mexico earlier in the week. 

The Wolverines fell in a lopsided opener, 24-1, before losing 16-6 in the middle game of the series. In that game, Utah Valley led 6-3 midway through after Trevor Peterson hit a two-run home run, but the Aggies scored 13 unanswered runs to clinch the series. In the finale, UVU was held to three hits by NM State starter Jonathan Groff. 

WAC UPDATE
Utah Valley is currently fourth, just in front of Sac State, who is playing a non-conference series at San Diego this weekend. GCU leads the league and its magic number to clinch at least a share of the regular season title is two. To clinch it outright the magic number is three, with a combination of GCU win and New Mexico State losses. CSU Bakersfield is entrenched in third place, three games in front of UVU and three behind NM State. Chicago State is behind Sac State, in sixth, while UTRGV, Seattle U and Northern Colorado round out the standings. 

Every team, with the exception of GCU due to reclassification, still has a shot at finishing in the top six (seven including Grand Canyon) to earn a berth in the WAC Tournament in Mesa. 

SENIOR DAY
Prior to Saturday's game, UVU will honor its seven seniors in their final home series. The Wolverine seniors are Matt Davidson, Justin Erlandson, Logan Hold, Jason Jourdan, Eric Olguin, Zac Willis, and Patrick Wolfe.

ABOUT THE LOPES
Grand Canyon is 24-23 overall and 18-3 in WAC play, and is on the verge of clinching its second WAC regular season title in the last three seasons. The Lopes have won each of their league series including four sweeps, including over second place New Mexico State. GCU split two non-conference midweek games against San José State to wrap up its home schedule. The Lopes close our their season in a non-conference series at UC Davis. 

Five players are batting above .300 with Tom Lerouge's .356 average leading the club. Austin Bull is hitting .349 while Ian Evans is batting .347 with five home runs and 43 RBIs. All three weekend starters have an ERA under 4.00. Friday starter Jake Won is 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA. 

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST GRAND CANYON
Utah Valley is 4-5 in nine prior meeting against Grand Canyon dating back to 2014. The Wolverines took two of three last season in Phoenix with GCU winning series in 2014 and 2015. UVU is 1-2 at home against the Lopes.