LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Fresh off of opening conference play at in-state rival Dixie State over the weekend, the Utah Valley University baseball team continues the trip with a two-game midweek set at UNLV on Monday and Tuesday in Las Vegas.
 
The Wolverines and Mountain West Rebels will open the two-game non-conference set on Monday at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT. The two teams will then conclude play on Tuesday at 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT. Both games will take place at UNLV's Earl E. Wilson Stadium and will be streamed live on YouTube. Live stats will also be available by visiting UNLVRebels.com.
 
UVU will enter Monday evening's contest with a 3-8 overall record and a 1-2 start to WAC play after winning one of three in the WAC-opening series at Dixie State over the weekend. The Trailblazers claimed the first two games of the series, 16-10 and 12-1, before Utah Valley responded to salvage a game by taking Sunday's finale by a score of 8-3. 
 
Mason Gray allowed just three runs on four hits while striking out three over 3.1 innings, and the UVU bullpen came on and tossed 5.2 innings of dominant relief en route to leading the Wolverines to victory. Nick Sims (1-0) picked up his first win of the year in relief after going 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit and no runs. Las Vegas native Josh Brown then came on and tossed the final three innings and also allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out three to earn his first save in a UVU uniform. 
 
Offensively, Trey Cutchen led the Wolverines in Sunday's finale at Dixie State by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Garrett Broussard was next by going 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. Mitch Moralez and Kyle Coburn also had two-hit outings for the Wolverines in the victory. 
 
On the season, senior outfielder Moralez leads UVU with a .415 batting average and a team-best four doubles. He also has a homer, five RBIs and six runs scored. Cutchen is next with a .340 batting clip, three doubles, five runs scored and four RBIs, while Connor Hall is hitting .313 with three extra-base hits, four RBIs and three runs scored, and Paul Vossen is batting an even .300 with a team-best four stolen bases. Brody Ponti and Copper Hansen are tied atop the team in RBIs with six. 
 
On the mound, Gray has led UVU's starting group by going 0-0 with a 4.38 ERA and a team-high eight strikeouts over 12.1 innings. Brown, who picked up the save on Sunday, is still yet to surrender a run on the season as the reliever holds a perfect 0.00 ERA with five strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work, while Sims is next with a 1-0 record, a 1.29 ERA and two saves while fanning six over 7.0 innings of work. 
 
SCHEDULED STARTING PITCHERS
UVU is set to start a pair of southpaws on the mound on Monday and Tuesday, as Henderson, Nevada native Andrew Hauck (1-0, 7.71 ERA) is scheduled to get the ball for UVU on Monday, while fellow left-hander Cal Beardsley (0-0, 18.00 ERA) will get the start on Tuesday. UNLV has announced that lefty Josh Sharman (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will start on the mound on Monday while Tuesday's starter will be right-hander Brian Uribe (will be his first appearance in 2022). 
 
ABOUT UNLV
The Rebels will enter this week's action with a 6-5 overall record after taking two of three from Cal Poly at home over the weekend. UNLV also holds wins on the year over Michigan State, San Diego (two) and Hawaii. The Rebels are 3-5 on the year at Earl E. Wilson Stadium and Monday and Tuesday's games will cap a five-game homestand for them. UNLV went 20-13 a season ago and took third in the Mountain West with a 15-12 conference record. The Rebels were picked to finish second in the MW this season.
 
Joey Walls is leading the Rebels at the plate on the season with a .444 batting average. He also has nine RBIs and 10 runs scored. Rylan Charles is next with a .415 battling clip and team-best tallies of six doubles and 12 RBIs. Henry Zeisler is also having a strong season for the Rebels, as he's hitting .385 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored. Preseason All-MW selections Edarian Williams and Diego Alarcon are also both batting .333 on the year for UNLV. On the mound, Josh Ibarra has been the team's top pitcher as he holds a 2-0 record and a 1.65 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 16.1 innings, while Joey Acosta Braxton Brushke and Hunter Katschke have all yet to surrender a run from the pen. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Monday's opener will mark just the third all-time meeting between UVU and UNLV on the diamond. The Rebels will enter play holding to a 2-0 advantage after claiming a 10-2 victory in 2017 and an 8-3 win in 2014. Each game in the all-time series has been played at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, as the Rebels also hold a 2-0 advantage at home. 
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
Following the two-game set at UNLV, the Wolverines will return to Orem for their 2022 home opening series against defending WAC champion California Baptist March 11-13 at UCCU Ballpark. Friday's opener is scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch, while Saturday is set for 2:05 and Sunday's finale will follow at 12:05.