OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University baseball team will return to WAC play when it welcomes the two-time defending conference champion Grand Canyon Antelopes to town for a three-game series at UCCU Ballpark this weekend (March 29-31).
 
The series will open on Friday evening with a 6 p.m. contest. The two teams will then play a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m., before closing the weekend series on Sunday at noon. All three games will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. Live stats and live audio will also be available by visiting GoUVU.com. 
 
"We've got to get ready for this weekend's series," head UVU coach Eric Madsen said. "GCU is a good team and this is a big series for us. We need to clean up a few areas of our game and be ready to go on Friday."
 
UVU (5-19, 2-1 WAC) will enter the series off of a 12-9 setback to Oregon of the Pac-12 Conference at home on Wednesday evening. After tying the midweek non-conference contest in the fifth, the Wolverines then fell behind 10-7 but rallied with two runs in the seventh to make it a one-run game at 10-9. The Ducks then tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to take a 12-9 advantage. UVU then loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the ninth and looked to stage the comeback, but Oregon's Ryne Nelson came on out of the pen and managed to strikeout back-to-back hitters to end the ballgame.
 
Junior outfielder Alexander Marco led UVU at the plate against UO by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a run scored and a pair of walks. Freshman infielder Mick Madsen too had a strong outing by driving home a season-high three runs, while senior designated hitter Ryan Eastburn went 1-for-3 with three walks and two runs scored. Junior reliever Travis Parker too had a strong outing in the game by giving up just one hit and striking out two in 4.0 shutout innings of middle relief. 
 
Prior to Wednesday's contest against Oregon, UVU opened conference play by taking two of three at Seattle U last weekend to open league play with 2-1 WAC record. After dropping the opener by a score of 8-5 on Friday, the Wolverines responded behind solid pitching from junior right-hander Paxton Schultz to take game two, 4-2, as well as to hold on late to take Sunday's finale, 6-5, and win their first series of the 2019 season. 
 
Schultz, who was recognized as the WAC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, pitched 8.0 shutout innings in Saturday's ballgame and struck out seven while scattering six hits on his way to helping UVU take the contest by a score of 4-2. Behind junior reliever Jesse Schmit's second save in as many days on Sunday, the Wolverines then managed to escape a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to hold on to claim a 6-5 victory in the finale on Sunday.
 
On the season, Marco leads UVU with a .344 average, nine doubles, four homers and 19 RBIs. Senior outfielder Michael Beltran is next with a .322 clip and team-highs of 18 walks and 18 runs scored, while the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week leads Utah Valley on the mound with a 1-2 record and a 3.51 ERA. Schultz has struck out 40 and walked just 14 in 41.0 innings of work.
 
Senior right-hander Jake Carr is scheduled to start game one this weekend, while Schultz will get the ball on Saturday, and fellow senior right-hander Walker Ramsey is slated to start on Sunday.
 
ABOUT GRAND CANYON
The Lopes will come to town with a 12-12 overall record and a 1-2 start in WAC play after dropping two of three at home to California Baptist. GCU then responded by defeating Nevada in non-conference midweek action on Wednesday afternoon in Reno. Despite dropping the opening league series to CBU, Grand Canyon has still won six of its last eight ballgames. The Lopes were again picked as the preseason favorites in the WAC this season after having won back-to-back regular season WAC titles in 2017 (20-4 WAC) and 2018 (19-5 WAC). 
 
Cuba Bess leads GCU offensively on the season with a .333 batting average, while 2018 first team All-WAC performer Pikai Winchester is hitting .330, and Kona Quiggle follows with a .312 clip and team-high tallies of six homers, nine doubles and 27 RBIs. The reigning WAC Player of the Year and 2019 WAC Preseason Player of the Year Quin Cotton will enter the series with a .297 average, 13 extra-base hits and 22 runs scored. Right-hander Kade Mechals, who is scheduled to start on Friday, leads GCU on the mound with a 5-1 record and a 1.49 ERA.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. GCU
Friday's opener will mark the 16th all-time meeting between UVU and GCU. The Lopes will enter play holding to a 10-5 all-time advantage and having won the last four contests after sweeping the Wolverines in Phoenix last season. GCU is also 4-2 all-time at UCCU Ballpark in Orem. 
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
Following this weekend's series, the Wolverines will hit the road for a five-game swing in Colorado beginning next weekend. UVU will first face Northern Colorado for a three-game league series from April 5-7, before heading to Colorado Springs to cap the trip with a pair of midweek non-conference contests at Air Force on April 8-9.