OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University is set to open Western Athletic Conference play this weekend with a three game series at Grand Canyon University. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 3 p.m. MT and a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT. The series can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network.

It will be the WAC debut for second-year head coach Stacy May-Johnson, with the 2020 season ending prior to the start of conference play. It will also be her first time facing GCU.

The Wolverines (11-13) lost two games in a Tuesday doubleheader at Utah, but have won four of six overall. Peyton Prigge — who is returning to her hometown with this week's games in Phoenix — accounted for UVU's only run of the game with a solo home run in the second inning. In game one, Utah scored seven runs in the third inning en route to the win. Siena Sandoval and Linnah Rebolledo had two hits apiece for UVU.  Rebolledo doubled twice and Sandoval drove her in both times.

Prior to the midweek at Utah, the Wolverines had won four straight including a three-game series sweep at Montana last weekend. UVU picked up a 12-0, five-inning win in the opener behind a seven-run fifth inning that helped end the game early. Brooke Carter and Kenzi Schultz combined on a one-hit shutout against the Grizzlies.

In the second game of the series — and second of the Friday twin bill — Prigge hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs in an 8-3 win. In Saturday's finale, Basia Query hit a three-run home run and Cretz went the distance in the circle in a 5-2 victory to earn the series sweep.

Rien Milliken is leading the team with a .396 batting average and is tied with Prigge, Query and Sandoval with a team-high four home runs. UVU is tied with Tarleton with a WAC-leading 23 home runs as a team.

ON DECK
The Wolverines will continue their current 13-game road swing with a Tuesday midweek at Utah State before a three-game WAC series next weekend at California Baptist

ABOUT THE LOPES
Grand Canyon is 11-16 entering WAC play and has played 23 of its 27 games at home so far this season. The Lopes went 2-3 at the GCU Invitational las week, defeating Idaho State twice but dropping three games to Southern Utah. GCU has won 18 of 19 games all-time against UVU, including six straight.