Utah Valley hosts in-state rival Southern Utah for its final home WAC series of the season this weekend. The Wolverines and Thunderbirds will square off in a doubleheader on Friday starting at 5 p.m. MDT, then will reconvene for the series finale on Saturday at 12 p.m. MDT.

Following Saturday's game will be the Senior Day ceremony, where graduating seniors Brooke Saili, Katie Zuniga, Joslyn Thieme, Jaeden Barajas, Kalena Shepherd, and Rylee Thorpe will be honored. 

The Wolverines are coming off a heartbreaking loss to BYU on Wednesday, where Utah Valley led much of the night, but a three-run seventh inning comeback from the Cougars allowed BYU to come away with the 6-5 victory. 

Jaeden Barajas went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in her return to the lineup on Wednesday. Barajas had been held out of the lineup after taking a foul tip off her mask in the first game against BYU on April 11. Rylee Thorpe extended her reached-base streak to 10 games with a 2-for-3 day of her own, including an RBI double and a run scored.

In last week's WAC series at California Baptist, Katie Zuniga was at her best. Zuniga allowed just two runs — one earned — in 13 innings pitched against the Lancers. Zuniga also picked up the victory in last Wednesday's walk-off win over Idaho State for a 2-1 record on the week. 

ABOUT THE T-BIRDS (16-14-1 ALL-TIME)

The Wolverines and Thunderbirds will meet for the first time as conference foes this weekend. Utah Valley holds a slim advantage in the all-time series, but SUU has won the last two meetings. The last time the two teams met in 2021, Kalena Shepherd — then a member of the Thunderbirds — went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, and five RBIs — in a 15-14 win for SUU. 

The Thunderbirds have struggled so far this season, posting a 6-24 record (3-12 WAC), and are currently in last place in the WAC. SUU has shown flashes of potential, with an early-season win over UNLV, a win over Stephen F. Austin and a run-rule victory over California Baptist. The T-Birds come into Orem on a three-game losing skid after being swept last weekend at Seattle U. 

UP NEXT

Following this weekend's WAC series with SUU, the Wolverines will close out the home season when they host the No. 17 Utah Utes on Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT. Tuesday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at UVUStats.com.