OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University baseball team will step out of conference play to host in-state and Pac-12 rival Utah on Tuesday afternoon at dōTERRA Field at UCCU Ballpark. With cold and rainy weather anticipated on Tuesday, first pitch has been moved up to a 3:05 p.m. start.
The contest will mark the second straight midweek battle between the in-state foes and the first of two meetings on the month between the Wolverines and Utes in Orem. Tuesday afternoon's ballgame will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live audio and live stats will also be available by visiting GoUVU.com.
"It's pretty awesome to have a Pac-12 team on our field. Tuesday will be a really great opportunity for us to get out and get after here at home," head UVU coach
Eddie Smith said. "We're looking for one or two more guys to really solidify themselves in the lineup or on the mound and this will be a great opportunity for that."
Tuesday's game will close a four-game homestand for the Wolverines, as UVU took one of three from WAC foe Sacramento State at UCCU Ballpark over the weekend. After dropping Friday's opener, 7-5, the Wolverines responded by recording a 10-4 in on Saturday afternoon. UVU's comeback then came up just short on Sunday, as the Hornets held on to claim the series finale, 5-3.
In Saturday's 10-4 victory, three Wolverines homered in the game and
Mick Madsen led the way by going 3-for-3 with four RBIs while
Spencer Olsen followed with 3-for-4 outing with a home run and three RBIs. Trailing 2-0 early, Madsen delivered a bases-clearing double in the third to give UVU a 3-2 advantage. The Wolverines then added home runs from Olsen,
Mitch Moralez, and
Kayler Yates over the next few innings to hold the lead. UVU also got a stellar long-relief outing from right-hander
Nick Sims, as he tossed 4.2 innings of shutout relief en route to earning the win on the mound.
Then trailing 5-1 in Sunday's finale, UVU rallied in the eighth on its way to making things interesting by scoring two runs and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.
Cole Jordan and
Drew Sims both delivered RBI singles in the frame and with the tying runners on the base paths and the go-ahead run at the plate in Olsen, Sac State closer Jack Zalasky managed to escape the jam by drawing a groundout. Moralez led UVU on Sunday by going 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Yates had a strong relief outing on the mound to help give the Wolverines a chance as he tossed a trio of late scoreless innings of work.
The redshirt freshman designated hitter Olsen had a big series at the plate for the Wolverines against Sac State series by batting .556 (5-for-9) with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Madsen was right behind him by hitting an even .500 (6-for-12) with a double, a triple, and five RBIs.
Drew Sims also hit .429, while
Paul Vossen batted .429, and Moralez .400.
Prior to last weekend's series, UVU took on Utah for the first time on the season last Tuesday at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City. Utah managed to pull out a tightly contested 7-6 late-night battle, as the game consisted of a two-hour and 13-minute rain and lightning delay prior to first pitch. UVU held a 6-4 lead in the fourth, but Utah responded to tie it in the bottom of that inning and scored what proved to be the winning run in the seventh. UVU then made things interesting in the ninth with a two-out double from Moralez and Madsen followed with a fly ball to right, but Utah's Kai Roberts made a diving catch to help preserve the win for the Utes.
On the season, Moralez leads Utah Valley with a .378 average, nine doubles, 11 extra-base hits, a .514 slugging, and a .415 on-base percentage. He also has two homers and 13 RBIs. Madsen is next with a .302 batting average, eight extra-base hits, 16 runs scored and a team-best 14 RBIs, while Vossen follows with a .288 average and a team-high six stolen bases.
Nick Sims leads the UVU pitching staff with a 4-0 record, two saves, and a 1.25 ERA in 21.2 innings, while
Coop Rust is the team's top starting pitcher with a 1-4 record and a 4.85 ERA.
ABOUT THE UTES
The University of Utah will come to Orem on Tuesday with a 17-10-1 overall record and a 4-5 Pac-12 clip after taking two of three at Washington State over the weekend. Utah first one the first two games of the series 10-9 and 10-3, before WSU responded to claim Sunday's finale 5-4. The Utes also have two wins on the season over fellow conference foe Washington, as well as three from non-conference foe CSU Bakersfield, two from Loyola Marymount, Fresno State, and Northern Colorado, and one from San Diego State, UNLV, Mercer, and UVU. Utah was picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 this season after taking 10th a season ago with a 17-33 overall record and a 7-23 conference clip.
Landon Frei paces the Utes offensively on the year with a .358 average and 23 runs scored, while Jayden Kiernan follows with a .341 average and 11 doubles, and TJ Clarkson is leading the way in the power numbers with a .323 clip, seven homers and 28 RBIs. Reliever Micah Ashman fronts the pitching staff in ERA with a 1.46 ERA and a 1-0 record, while Bryson Van Sickle is next with a 2-0 clip and a 1.98 ERA. Randon Hostert is the club's top starter with a 2-0 record and a 5.13 ERA, while Matthew Sox leads in strikeouts with 38 in 41.0 innings.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tuesday's ballgame will mark the second of three meetings on the year and the 59th all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Utes. Utah holds a 34-24 series advantage and having won seven of the last eight meetings. The Utes hold a slight 17-14 with games played at UCCU Ballpark in Orem. UVU's last win came on April 23, 2019 in a 6-3 home victory.
Drew Sims led UVU in that game by going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
ON DECK FOR UVU
The Wolverines will next return to the road for a three-game conference series in the Pacific Northwest this weekend at Seattle U (April 8-10). Following the series, UVU will cap the trip with a Monday, April 11 contest at Washington of the Pac-12 Conference.
