UPDATE: Friday's series opener has been moved up to a 12 p.m. MT start due to expected inclement weather later in the day. Each day of the series will now begin at noon.

OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University baseball team will hit the road this weekend for a four-game WAC series Friday to Sunday, March 26-28, at the University of Northern Colorado.
 
The conference series will take place at UNC's Jackson Field in Greeley and will open with a Friday afternoon contest at 2 p.m. The two teams will then play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon, followed by the series finale on Sunday at noon.
 
All four games of this weekend's series will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. Live stats will also be available for all four contests by visiting UNCBears.com.
 
UVU will enter the series with a 2-14 overall record and an 0-4 start to conference play. The Wolverines last dropped a UCCU Crosstown Clash midweek rivalry game to BYU on Tuesday afternoon in Provo, 11-7, before getting swept by Sacramento State in UVU's four-game opening WAC series at home this past weekend. 
 
With the Cougars holding to an early 7-0 advantage on Tuesday, UVU countered back with six unanswered runs in the middle innings to pull within a run at 7-6. BYU then struck back with a run in the sixth and three more in the eighth, as Utah Valley's comeback bid fell short in the 11-7 setback.
 
Junior second baseman Mitch Moralez led the Wolverines at the plate against the Cougars by going 3-for-5 with a double and a run batted in. Senior outfielder Alexander Marco and redshirt sophomore utility Jeff Arens were next by each collecting two hits, while junior Pacen Hayes blasted out his first home run of the season for UVU. 
 
In a staff day for Utah Valley, a trio of hurlers all pitched well in relief against BYU on Tuesday. In his first collegiate appearance, freshman right-hander Carson Brown went 2.1 innings and allowed just one run on one hit. Second-year freshman southpaw Dylan Cook followed by later throwing a scoreless inning of relief, while sophomore lefty Logan Petet pitched two-thirds of an inning of scoreless action in the eighth.
 
After dropping the first three games to the defending WAC Tournament champion Sacramento State Hornets at home this past weekend, UVU then looked primed to claim the finale behind a strong outing from starter Mason Gray as it held a 5-0 lead into the seventh inning. Sac State then took advantage of two costly Utah Valley errors that inning en route to putting up an eight-run seventh to earn an 11-7 come-from-behind victory in Sunday's finale to sweep the series.
 
Moralez leads UVU offensively on the season with a .343 batting average and team-high tallies of seven runs scored and two stolen bases. He also has four doubles and eight RBIs. Senior outfielder Alexander Marco is next with a .298 average and also leads the team in the power numbers with team-best marks of nine doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs. Senior infielder Kade Poulsen is also off to a strong 2021 campaign, as he is batting .280 with four extra-base hits, six runs scored and six RBIs. Second-year freshman Nick Sims has UVU's best numbers currently from its starting rotation, as he'll enter the weekend with a 1-2 win-loss record and a 4.41 ERA. Sophomore Gray is right behind him with a 4.64 ERA and a team-high 20 strikeouts. 
 
THIS WEEKEND'S SCHEDULED STARTING PITCHERS
The senior right-hander and Preseason All-WAC honoree Jesse Schmit (1-2, 9.98 ERA) is scheduled to get the ball for the Wolverines in Friday's opener and will face Northern Colorado righty Sam Leach (1-3, 4.56 ERA). Fellow UVU righty Sims (1-2, 4.41) is then slated to start the first game of Saturday's twin bill while Utah Valley junior RHP Bobby Voortmeyer (0-3, 5.14) will start the nightcap. They will face-off against UNC righties Dylan Bowers (0-1, 6.00) and Jacob Salim (1-2, 5.85). In the finale on Sunday, sophomore RHP Gray (0-3, 4.64) will go for the Wolverines while RHP Ashton Mansur (0-1, 6.75) will start for the Bears.
 
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
UNC will enter the weekend with a 4-15 overall record and an 0-8 WAC clip. A current affiliate member in the WAC in the sport of baseball, Northern Colorado has announced that this season will be its last in the league as it will switch to the Summit League next year. The Bears will be looking to snap a nine-game skid on Friday, as they've been swept in their first two WAC series on the road at California Baptist and New Mexico State, and also dropped the finale at home against North Dakota State. UNC holds its wins on the year over North Dakota State (two) and Colorado Christian (two). The Bears were picked to finish ninth in the WAC this season after going 4-13 in 2020 and 12-35 overall as well as 8-19 in league play to finish in a tie for eighth in the WAC that season.
 
Josh Glenn leads Northern Colorado offensively on the season with a .367 average and 22 RBIs. Friday's scheduled starter Leach is next with a .350 batting average and seven extra-base hits, while Jake Gitter and Matt Burkart lead the way in the power numbers, as they each have six home runs on the year. Leach also tops the starting rotation with a 1-3 record and a 4.56 ERA. He also has a complete game on the season and 21 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. Bowers fronts the team and the WAC in strikeouts with an impressive tally of 38 Ks in 27 innings of work. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
UVU has faced Northern Colorado more than any other team at the NCAA Division I level, as Friday's opener will mark the 59th all-time meeting between the two conference foes. The Wolverines will enter play with a 38-20 series advantage and having won four of the last five meetings. UVU has taken the series against the Bears in each of the past four season meetings (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). Utah Valley also holds a 17-13 all-time record in Greeley and a 23-11 mark in conference games.
 
ON DECK FOR UTAH VALLEY
Following this weekend's series, the Wolverines will return to Orem for a four-game league series against Grand Canyon April 1-3 at UCCU Ballpark. GCU was one of three teams picked to win the WAC this season.