SACRAMENTO – The Utah Valley University baseball team will continue a current nine-game trip with a three-game conference series at WAC foe Sacramento State this weekend in Sactown.
 
The series will run Friday to Sunday, May 13-15, at Sac State's John Smith Field. Friday's opener is set for 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT while Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. The two squads will close the weekend series on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT. Following Sunday's finale, UVU will wrap the nine-game in 11-day trip on Monday, May 16 with a non-conference contest at Pacific in Stockton, California that afternoon at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT. 
 
All three games of the Sac State series will be streamed live on ESPN+ while Monday's tilt at Pacific will air on the WCC Network. Live stats will be available for each game, as the first three will be available via HornetStats.com and the final one at PacificTigers.com.
 
The trip began last weekend with a three-game non-conference series at Pac-12 foe Washington State and the Cougars went on to sweep the series. UVU then stepped out of Division I play for a D1 vs. JUCO battle at Lower Columbia College on Monday and the Wolverines came away with a 5-2 victory in Coach Eddie Smith's return to Longview, Washington, as Smith previously coached the Red Devils for four seasons. UVU then most recently dropped a hard fought 6-4 battle to Portland of the West Coast Conference on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
The Wolverines will enter the weekend with a 16-32 overall record and in sixth place in the WAC West Division with a 9-15 conference clip. In Wednesday's game at Portland, UVU jumped out to an early 4-1 lead thanks to a second-inning three-run homer from Connor Hall followed by a solo shot from Mick Madsen in the third. The Pilots then made it a one-run game at 4-3 with a two-run home run from Jake Holcroft in the fourth and later took their first lead of the game in the seventh with a three-run frame. UVU looked to have a chance to even things up in the eighth by loading the bases with two away and Brandon Luna was hit by a pitch, which looked to have driven in a run to make it a one-run game at 6-5, but the home plate umpire called Luna out on strikes for having leaned into the pitch on a questionable call on an 0-2 count to end the threat. 
 
The junior infielder Madsen led UVU offensively in the game by going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer, while Hall went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. Utah Valley also had strong pitching performances in the game from relievers Luke McCollough, Blake Zeleny, and Nick Sims, as the trio of Wolverines all tossed scoreless outings. McCollough led the way by striking out four and not allowing a hit over 1.2 innings, while both Zeleny and Sims followed with a scoreless frame apiece. 
 
On the season, senior infielder Mitch Moralez fronts UVU with a .365 average and 19 extra-base hits with 12 doubles, five homers, and two triples. He also ranks third in the WAC in total hits and is tied for 28th nationally in that category with 72 base knocks on the year. Freshman slugger Spencer Olsen is next with a .345 average, and leads the team in homers with seven, slugging (.643), on-base percentage (.402), and is second in RBIs with 24. Trey Cutchen follows with a .305 average and is tied for the team lead in extra-base hits with 19 and leads the squad in runs scored with 35. Cole Jordan fronts the team in RBIs with 25. Coop Rust currently leads UVU's weekend rotation with a 2-6 record and 5.62 ERA, while Devin Smith leads the way in strikeouts with 37 in 50.0 innings pitched. Nick Sims fronts UVU's bullpen with a 5-1 record, 3.73 ERA, and two saves. 
 
WAC BASEBALL UPDATE
With just two conference series remaining, this weekend's series is a big one for the Wolverines. With the top four postseason eligible teams from each division making the 2022 WAC Tournament that will be held May 25-28 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, UVU will enter this weekend currently one game ahead of New Mexico State for the final spot for the tournament. The Wolverines are also just one game back of Seattle U for the No. 3 seed in the West Division, as both California Baptist and Dixie State are transitioning to Division I and ineligible for postseason play. To view the latest standings, visit WACSports.com.
 
SCHEDULED STARTING PITCHERS 
Right-hander Devin Smith (1-4, 6.48 ERA) will get the ball for UVU on Friday and will face RHP Eli Saul (6-0, 3.45 ERA) of Sac State. Fellow RHP Coop Rust (2-6, 5.62 ERA) will start for the Wolverines on Saturday and will take on RHP Colin Hunter (2-4, 5.31 ERA) while right-hander Mason Gray (2-4, 6.28 ERA) will start in the finale against the Hornets on Sunday and will face RHP Noah Takacs (1-3, 8.38 ERA). Monday's starters for both UVU and Pacific are yet-to-be-announced. 
 
ABOUT SAC STATE
The Hornets will enter the series with a 25-23 record and currently in third place in the WAC West Division with a 14-13 league record. Sac State dropped two of three to first-place Grand Canyon last weekend in Phoenix but responded by claiming an 11-9 midweek victory at Fresno State on Tuesday. The Hornets were ranked as high as No. 20 nationally earlier this season after opening the year a perfect 7-0. Sac State was picked to finish second in the West Division of the WAC this season after taking third in the conference last season with a 35-22 overall record and a 22-14 WAC clip. Sacramento State won the WAC Tournament in both 2017 and 2019 en route to playing in NCAA Regionals those seasons.
 
Dawsen Bacho paces Sac State on the year with .331 average and 12 doubles, and also has six homers, 21 RBIs. Nick Iwasa is next with a .304 clip, while Cesar Valero leads is batting .297 and leads the way in the power numbers with 13 homers, 38 RBIs, and 36 runs scored. Eli Saul is Sacramento State's top starting pitcher, as he'll enter with a 6-0 record, 3.45 ERA, and 57 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. Jack Zalasky is the team's top reliever, as he'll enter with a 3-4 record, 3.76 ERA, and eight saves. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
This weekend's series will mark the second season series between the two after Sac State took two of three at UCCU Ballpark last month. Friday will also mark the 54th all-time meeting, as the Hornets will enter holding to a 33-20 advantage and an 18-10 record with games played in Sacramento. UVU has also dropped seven of the last eight games against the Hornets. 
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
Following Monday's road-trip finale at Pacific, Utah Valley will return home for the final time in 2022 by welcoming conference foe New Mexico State to town for the final WAC series of the season. The series will run Thursday to Saturday, May 19-21, at UCCU Ballpark.