Utah Valley heads to Arizona for the Littlewood Classic, hosted by Grand Canyon and Arizona State, for five games this weekend, highlighted by a trio of Power 4 opponents. 

The Wolverines will open the weekend on Friday against Belmont and No. 25 Washington, then face No. 20/21 Oregon and North Dakota on Saturday. Utah Valley will then make the short trip to Tempe to take on Arizona State on Sunday. All five games will be streamed live on the GoUVU YouTube channel, with live stats at UVUStats.com.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

• Friday, Feb. 14: vs Belmont, 10:30 a.m. MT/vs NR/No. 25 Washington, 1:15 p.m. MT

• Saturday, Feb. 15: vs No. 20/21 Oregon, 10:30 a.m. MT/vs North Dakota, 1:15 p.m. MT

• Sunday, Feb. 16: at Arizona State, 11:30 a.m. MT

LAST TIME OUT

Utah Valley opened the season with a 2-3 weekend at the NorCal Kickoff, with wins over Mountain West foes Boise State (6-5) and San Jose State (7-1). Avery Sapp picked up complete game wins in both, and enters the week tied for 8th in the nation in innings pitched (20) and tied for 12th in strikeouts (21). Sapp struck out a career-high nine against the Broncos, and helped her own cause against the Spartans with a 2-for-3 day at the plate that included a two-RBI double.

Megan Gibbs inched her way closer to the UVU career home run record with a solo shot in the season opener against Idaho State. Gibbs now has 36 career homers, tied for second-most with Britney Vansway (2014-17), and is six away from breaking the record of 41, held by Amanda Robinson (2011-14).

Emma Haygood had the clutch gene at the plate in Sacramento, going 3-for-6 with five RBIs and a walk. Each of Haygood's hits plated at least one run. 

Amber Rodriguez had a strong weekend out of the leadoff spot, tying for the team lead in RBIs with three, reaching base six times, and swiping a bag. 

Utah Valley's defense was on point last weekend, with just one error in five games. The team's .993 fielding percentage is tied for fourth in the country entering the weekend. 

HISTORY VS THE OPPOSITION

• Belmont: Never played (UVU 1-3 all-time vs MVC opponents)

• Washington: UW leads 8-0 (Last: 2/9/24, UW won 4-3)

• Oregon: UO leads 12-0 (Last: 2/17/23, UO won 9-0)

• North Dakota: Tied 8-8 (Last: 2/8/19, UVU won 8-4)

• Arizona State: ASU leads 2-0 (Last: 2/24/24, ASU won 9-4)

UP NEXT

Utah Valley will make its first-ever trip to Georgia for a seven-game trip that includes five at the Georgia Classic. The Wolverines will play two games apiece against Syracuse and App State, and one against the host Bulldogs. UVU will then close out the trip with a doubleheader at Georgia State. The Wolverines have never faced any of the four opponents it will play on that trip.