OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University baseball team will close a current 17-game stretch to open the 2020 season away from home with a four-game non-conference series at Pac-12 foe Washington this weekend at Husky Ballpark in Seattle (March 6-8). 
 
The weekend series will begin on Friday evening at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT. The two teams will then play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT and will close the series with a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. 
 
All four games will be streamed live on Pac-12.com (Washington Live Stream-2). Live audio as well as live stats will also be available for all four games by visiting GoHuskies.com.
 
The Wolverines will enter the series with a 3-10 record after dropping a 5-4 midweek crosstown clash at neighboring rival BYU on Tuesday night in Provo. UVU scored four runs in the top of the first to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead, but back came the Cougars as they reeled of five unanswered runs to claim the 5-4 victory.
 
Kade Poulsen and Jeff Arens both drove home a pair of runs apiece in UVU's four-run first inning. Mitch Moralez also continued to swing a hot bat by going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. 
 
Prior to the BYU setback, the Wolverines split a four-game non-conference series at San José State last weekend in the Bay Area. After dropping the series opener, 3-1, the Wolverines responded by coming from behind to earn a 6-5 13-inning win in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. The Spartans then responded by claiming the nightcap, 10-1, before UVU bounced back by winning a 1-0 shutout on Sunday for head coach Eric Madsen's 300th career victory.
 
Senior outfielder Jake Berry was the hero for UVU in Saturday's win, as the Bay Area native went 3-for-6 with a home run in the ninth and a go-ahead RBI double in the 13th, as the Wolverines recorded the 6-5 extra-inning win. Trailing 5-3 in the ninth, Berry started a ninth-inning rally by smacking out UVU's first home run of season to left to make it a one-run game. With two runners on and one away, Moralez delivered the game-tying RBI by driving home Garrett Broussard with an RBI single to left to force extras. After a trio of scoreless extra innings, Poulsen started off the 13th with a leadoff single. Pinch runner Jake Plecas then advanced to second on a passed ball and came around to score what proved to be the winning run on the clutch RBI double from Berry.
 
In Sunday's series finale, Mason Gray was dominant on the mound for UVU by going a career-long 8.2 innings while scattering five hits and striking out four. He faced the minimum in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, and allowed just three hits into the ninth. The Spartans then got two hits off of him in the ninth and later loaded the bases with two away, but UVU closer Pedro Perdomo came on and drew a game-ending groundout off the bat of Johnny Mendoza to earn the save and seal the win for the Wolverines.
 
Moralez leads UVU offensively on the season with a .345 batting average as well as team-leading tallies of six doubles and six RBIs. He also holds a current nine-game hitting streak and an 11-game reached base safely streak. Poulsen is next with a .333 average, while Garrett Broussard follows with a .286 clip and a team-best six runs scored. Jesse Schmit is UVU's top starting pitcher with a 1-0 record, a 1.50 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched, while Petet has been the team's top reliever with a 0-0 record, 0.77 ERA, a save and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. 
 
Schmit is scheduled to start Friday's opener on the mound at Washington, while fellow right-handers Bobby Voortmeyer and Jaxson Otis will start Saturday's twin bill, and Gray will get the nod on Sunday.
 
ABOUT WASHINGTON
The Huskies will enter the series with a 7-4 overall record and currently receiving votes for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) top 30 poll. UW dropped a 3-1 home game against Portland on Tuesday night but previously took two of three from UC Irvine over the weekend. Washington has also swept a three-game series from Fresno State on the season, as well as taken one of three from Loyola Marymount, and holds a midweek victory over Long Beach State. The Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this season after going 28-24 overall and 12-17 in league action last year.
 
Noah Hsue leads UW offensively on the year with a .306 batting average, while 2019 Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection Braiden Ward is batting .295 with team-leading tallies of 10 runs scored, four doubles and eight stolen bases. Stevie Emanuels is the top starting pitcher as he is 2-1 on the year with a 1.15 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work. Dylan Lamb is the club's top reliever with a 2-0 record, a 0.82 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 11.0 innings.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. WASHINGTON
Friday's opener will mark the 10th all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Huskies but the first since the 2008 season. UW will enter play holding to a 7-2 all-time lead and having won four straight after sweeping a three-game series at Husky Ballpark in 2008 and the final game of a three-game series in Orem in 2007. The Huskies are also a perfect 6-0 in the all-time history at home in Seattle.
 
ON DECK FOR UTAH VALLEY
Following the series, the Wolverines are scheduled to host their 2020 home opener on Tuesday, March 10 in a midweek matchup against Air Force. UVU also host AFA in another midweek battle the following day on Wednesday, March 11. Utah Valley will then welcome Boise State to town next weekend for a four-game non-conference series (March 13-15).