OREM, Utah – After 22 straight games away from Wolverine Field to start the season, the Utah Valley University softball team opens its home schedule this week beginning on Tuesday, March 26 in a doubleheader against BYU as part of the UCCU Crosstown Clash.
The Wolverines will also host their first home WAC series on Friday and Saturday against UMKC. First pitch for Tuesday's twin bill is 2 p.m. MT, with Friday series opener against the Kangaroos at 2 p.m. MT. UVU and UMKC will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. MT.
The Wolverines (7-15, 0-3) were swept at Grand Canyon to open WAC play last weekend in Phoenix. After being shut out twice in a Friday doubleheader, Utah Valley jumped ahead early on Saturday before the Lopes rallied to score the final five runs in an 8-4 victory.
Peyton Prigge and
Linnah Rebolledo both homered for the Wolverines.
Abby Doughty is batting .358 with three home runs for UVU while
Lyndsay Steverson is hitting .353 with team-highs of five home runs and 21 runs batted in.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
BYU enters Tuesday at 10-15 overall and has lost six straight games, but its last five games have come against No. UCLA, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 11 Texas. Rylee Jensen leads the team with a .411 batting average along with five home runs and 16 RBIs. Autumn Moffat leads the Cougar pitching staff with a 2.68 ERA.
ABOUT THE KANGAROOS
UMKC is 18-12 overall and 1-2 in WAC play after dropping two of three at home to Seattle last weekend in its conference opener. Sydney Garcia leads Kansas City at the plate with a .410 average, second best in the WAC entering the week. Three different players share the team lead with four home runs while two others have hit three apiece.
The 'Roo pitching staff boasts a team ERA of 2.69, third best in the conference and is led by Kailyn Packard, who is 5-4 with a 2.10 ERA and has limited opponents to a .191 batting average. UMKC will play a Wednesday doubleheader at Southern Utah before making the trek to Orem.
ON DECK
UVU is back out on the road next week with a midweek contest on Tuesday, April 2 at the University of Utah before a three-game conference series at New Mexico State on April 5-6.
