The 2023 season for Utah Valley University softball is set to begin this weekend at the NorCal Kickoff Classic, hosted by Sacramento State and UC Davis. The Wolverines are scheduled to play five games, with two games coming on Opening Day against Big Ten foe Rutgers and co-host Sacramento State. UVU will play two on Saturday against WCC foes Santa Clara and Pacific before wrapping up the weekend at UC Davis on Sunday.
The Wolverines will be looking to build off a strong 2022 campaign that saw the program's best full-season win percentage since 2013 and its best home record since 2018. Utah Valley, under second-year head coach Cody Thomson, will have to rely on a plethora of new faces as the Wolverines are bringing in 10 newcomers, including seven freshmen.
Utah Valley will lean on an experienced pitching staff that includes starters Brooke Saili and Katie Zuniga, who combined to pitch over 80% of the team's innings in 2022. The Wolverines also add an experienced JUCO pitcher in Jorja Barrett, who comes to Orem with three years of collegiate softball under her belt.
In the field, the Wolverines will have to replace All-WAC selections Madison Carr and Linnah Rebolledo, as well as starting first baseman Mikaela Thomson, who led the team in OPS, home runs, and RBIs. Utah Valley returns four starters in Kalena Shepherd, Laynee Betancur, Megan Gibbs and Jaeden Barajas. Among the other returning players are Rylee Thorpe, Danyé Albritton, and Victoria Vasquez, who each appeared in at least half the games in 2022.
The Wolverines are also bringing in a pair of transfer outfielders in junior Libbie Hawker and sophomore Angelique Mann. Hawker played her first two seasons at Utah State, where she appeared in 66 games for the Aggies. Mann played one season at Salt Lake Community College, where she appeared in 39 games, and was a mid-year addition to the 2023 roster. Mann was a key contributor on an SLCC squad that was one of the top JUCO teams in the nation in 2022.
Broadcast Info
Friday's game against Sacramento State and Sunday's game against UC Davis will each be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats for all five games will be available and updates will be posted periodically on the UVU Softball social media accounts.
About Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights are looking to build off of a strong 2022 that saw a 17-win improvement from the 2021 season. Rutgers started last season strong, posting a 22-13 record in non-conference play, but went just 3-17 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights are looking to qualify for a Regional for the first time since 1981. This will be Utah Valley's first-ever meeting with Rutgers and the 12th-ever meeting with a Big Ten foe.
About Sacramento State
The Hornets out of the Big Sky Conference came one win away from a spot in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual champions Weber State. Sac State finished 30-25, with a 12-6 mark in Big Sky play, which was good for second place in the regular season standings. The Hornets last made the NCAA Tournament in 2018. UVU has faced Sacramento State just twice in the program's history, losing both halves of a doubleheader back in 2005.
About Santa Clara
The Broncos capped off 2022 with a 21-30 record, finishing third in the WCC. Santa Clara and Utah Valley were one-time conference rivals when both teams competed in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference in 2013. The Wolverines swept the four-game series that year and hold a 6-2 edge all-time in the series.
About Pacific
The Tigers are looking to improve upon a 12-37 record in 2022. Pacific was able to pick up two wins over Power 6 conference teams, topping Seton Hall and Iowa State in non-conference play. The Wolverines faced off with the Tigers to open the 2022 season at the Lynn Russell Miller Classic, with UVU picking up the first two wins of Cody Thomson's tenure over the Tigers.
About UC Davis
The Aggies are coming off a 23-29 campaign in 2022, finishing eighth in the Big West with an 11-16 mark. UC Davis is entering its 16th season as a full Division I program after beginning their transition from Division II in 2005, where the Aggies were a perennial power and also won the 2003 Division II National Championship. The Aggies have reached the postseason once as a Division I member, qualifying for the Stanford Regional in 2010.
Up Next
The Wolverines will make their second of four trips to California when they head to San Diego for the Campbell/Cartier Classic hosted by San Diego State. Utah Valley will face off with Oregon, LMU, SDSU, and UC Riverside over the three-day tournament.
