OREM, Utah – Fresh off of WAC victory over Tarleton on Sunday afternoon, the Utah Valley University baseball team will cap a five-game homestand by welcoming in-state foe Utah to UCCU Ballpark on Tuesday evening for a midweek battle.
 
The non-conference contest will begin at 6 p.m. and will mark the first of two season meetings between the Wolverines and Utes. Tuesday's ballgame will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. Live audio and live stats will also be available by visiting GoUVU.com. Tickets can also be purchased for Tuesday's in-state contest by visiting GoUVU.com/Tickets. 
 
"We're looking forward to hosting the University of Utah," head UVU coach Eric Madsen said. "They are a good team and it's always a good competition for us to play the Utes in these midweek games. We're excited for the chance to play them and it should be a good game."
 
UVU will enter Tuesday's midweek contest with a 7-26 overall record and a 5-15 WAC clip after taking one of four from conference newcomer Tarleton in the first-ever series between the two clubs at home over the weekend. After dropping a 10-inning battle in the series opener, 4-3, and then having Tarleton earn a 9-7 come-from-behind win in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, the Texans then secured the series with an 8-1 win in the nightcap of the twinbill. Then trailing early 3-0 in Sunday's finale, the Utah Valley bats came alive en route to banging out a season-high 15 hits to defeat Tarleton 8-4 to salvage a game on the weekend.
 
A total of five Wolverines recorded multiple-hit outings in Sunday's finale led by three hits from both Mick Madsen and Trey Newman. Newman led the way by each going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk and three runs scored, while Madsen went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Garrett Broussard, Mitch Moralez and Ty Mead all added two-hits apiece on the day and Broussard fronted the group with a triple and two runs batted in. 
 
UVU also got strong pitching performances from starter Mason Gray and reliever Dylan Cook en route to helping the Wolverines record the win on Sunday. The RHP Gray picked up the win to improve to 2-4 on the season after surrendering just three earned runs on five hits while striking out five over 5.0 innings of work. Cook then came on in the sixth and tossed a four scoreless innings of relief to earn his first career save. The southpaw reliever gave up just three hits while striking out one and walking just one.
 
UVU catchers Newman and Drew Sims had strong offensive outings for the Wolverines in the Tarleton series, as Newman batted .500 with two doubles and three runs scored while Sims hit .429 with an RBI and a run scored. Madsen also had a strong offensive series by batting .417 on the weekend with two runs scored and two batted in, while Brandon Luna followed with a .333 average, two doubles and a run scored. Senior Alexander Marco also had UVU's first two-home run game since 2019 in the series by belting out a pair of homers in Saturday's first game of the twin bill and finished with .278 average over the series with two homers, three RBIs and three runs scored. Despite taking a no-decision on Friday, senior righty Jesse Schmit had UVU's strongest start on the mound by tossing 6.1 innings and allowing just two runs while striking out five and scattering eight hits. 
 
Marco leads UVU offensively on the season with a .274 average, five home runs, and 15 doubles. He is also second in RBIs with 15. Marco's 15 doubles are also good enough to lead the WAC and tie him for fourth nationally in that category. Moralez is next for the Wolverines with a .269 batting average and team-leading tallies of 15 runs scored and four stolen bases, while Kade Poulsen follows with a .248 clip, three home runs and leads the team in RBIs with 17. Bobby Voortmeyer (4.32 ERA) and Mason Gray (5.01 ERA) are UVU's top starting pitchers, as both hold 2-4 records and Gray leads the team with 45 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. 
 
TUESDAY'S SCHEDULED STARTING PITCHERS
Sophomore left-hander Tevin Hall is scheduled to get his first start of the season for the Wolverines on Tuesday. Hall will enter the contest with a 0-0 record and a 4.05 ERA and nine strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work. Utah is slated to start right-hander Ben Kibbe in what will be his second start of the season. Kibbe will enter with a 0-0 record, 4.66 ERA and six Ks in 9.2 innings. 
 
LET'S TURN TWO
Now with 32 double plays on the season, the UVU defense is currently tied for third in the nation in that category. Utah Valley is also 11th nationally in double plays turned with a per game average of 0.97 per contest. The Wolverines turned an impressive tally of seven double plays in the four-game series against Tarleton, including a season-high four in the series finale on Sunday.
 
ABOUT THE UTES
The Pac-12 Utes will come to Orem with an 8-21 overall record and a 4-11 Pac-12 Conference clip. Utah has dropped five straight after getting swept at UCLA over the weekend, dropping a 7-4 contest to BYU last Tuesday, and falling in the series finale at home to Washington State the previous weekend. In Pac-12 play, Utah has picked up wins over No. 21 Oregon State, Stanford, California and Washington State. The Utes also hold wins on the season over BYU, Cal State Fullerton and Dixie State. Utah was picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 this year after going 6-7 in 2020 and 16-33 overall and 6-24 in league play in 2019.
 
Matt Richardson leads the Utes with a .333 average and is third on the team in RBIs with 12 and second in runs scored with 16. Jayden Kiernan is next with a .308 clip, four doubles and 10 RBIs, and Christopher Rowan Jr. leads the team in the power numbers with four homers and 14 RBIs. David Watson is Utah's top starting pitcher with a 2-5 record and a 5.59 ERA, while Kyle Robeniol leads the team in strikeouts with 34 Ks in 34.2 innings of work.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UTAH
Tuesday's ballgame will mark the 55th all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Utes. Utah will enter play with a 31-24 all-time advantage, a slight 16-14 record at UCCU Ballpark in Orem, and having won four of the last five meetings. UVU did win the last contest between the two clubs, however, a 6-3 victory on April 23, 2019 in Orem. The two teams will close the two-game season series on Wednesday, May 12 at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake. 
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
UVU will hit the road this weekend for the first of two consecutive WAC series away from home this weekend at California Baptist April 23-25. The Wolverines will then play at in-state foe Dixie State in the first Old Hammer Rivalry series April 30-May 2. 
 
TICKET INFORMATION 
Fans will be allowed to attend Tuesday's ballgame and socially distanced reserved seats will be sold in pods of four for $5 per ticket ($20 total for the pod). General admission tickets will also be available for purchase in the grass berm for $5 per ticket. Concessions will be unavailable for purchase this weekend, but fans will be allowed to bring in outside drinks and/or snacks. To purchase reserved seats, please call 801-863-7468 or buy them at the gate. All grass berm tickets can be purchased online by clicking here.
 
Face coverings will be required, and fans must adhere to all state and local government guidelines.