Utah Valley returns home and wraps up rivalry week with the Crosstown Clash against the BYU Cougars on Tuesday evening at Wolverine Softball Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Ethan Jordan on the call. Live stats will be available at UVUStats.com.
The Den will be holding a tailgate with J.Dawgs available for the first 75 students. All fans are encouraged to wear green.
REMINDER: UVU softball is pleased to offer free admission to all home games this season. Due to the ongoing construction of the concession and restroom facilities, seating capacity will be limited with some seating areas having obstructed views. ADA accessible seating is available on the tennis courts and baseball stadium balcony overlooking the softball field.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolverines took the final game of the three-game Old Hammer Rivalry series with Utah Tech, 14-0 on Saturday to avoid a sweep this past weekend in St. George. The Trailblazers took the first two games of that series in a doubleheader on Friday, 10-8 and 7-2 respectively.
Peyton Hall had a very strong weekend at the plate to extend her hitting streak to seven games. Hall went 8-for-11 with a home run and four RBIs, and is hitting .600 over her current hitting streak.
Amber Rodriguez extended her team-best reached base streak to 15 games with a hit in each of the three games in St. George. Rodriguez's 15-game streak is the longest since Halle Morris' 17-game stretch last season, and is currently tied for the 13th-longest in program history.
Megan Gibbs brought a steady presence out of the leadoff spot, extending her reached base streak to eight and 18 of her last 19 games. Gibbs has a team-high 22 walks — already ninth-most in a single season in program history — and her .516 OBP is on pace to set the team record. Gibbs hit her 40th career home run in Saturday's win, and is now two away from setting the career record.
Emma Haygood added to her team-best 21 RBIs with a three-run homer in Saturday's series finale, her third of the season. Haygood is also tied for the team lead in doubles with seven and is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the WAC with just two strikeouts in 59 at-bats.
Trinity Johnston got her first collegiate start on Saturday in right field and made an instant impact in her second plate appearance of the game. Johnston smoked a double off the wall in left for her first college hit and RBI, and came just feet away from her first home run.
SERIES HISTORY VS BYU
Utah Valley got its first win of the Cody Thomson era against the Cougars the last time the two teams met in 2024, a 12-10 barnburner that saw the Wolverines come back from a 5-0 deficit with a 10-run third inning. Among the returning players in that game, Angelique Mann hit a home run, Amber Rodriguez had a three-hit game, and Payge Armendariz had three RBIs to help lead Utah Valley to its first win over BYU since 2021.
A win for the Wolverines would mean the first back-to-back wins over their crosstown rivals in series history, as the Cougars hold a 48-6 advantage all-time. With the two scheduled games this season, BYU will officially be the most-played opponent in Utah Valley's D-I history (56 games), surpassing Northern Colorado (55 games) and holding a slight edge over Idaho State (54 games).
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
As always, the Cougars bring plenty of power at the plate with 35 home runs entering Tuesday's game, and have held opponents to just nine long balls. Ilove'a Brittingham and Lindy Milkowski lead the squad with eight apiece.
BREAK OUT THE RUBBER CHICKENS
Megan Gibbs ranks first in the WAC and 31st in the nation in walks per game at 0.81, and has drawn nine in her last seven games. If her current pace holds for the remainder of the year, she will surpass the single-season record which is currently 34, set by Brianna Gatlin in 2016.
I'VE SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE
Saturday's 14-0 win over Utah Tech was the team's most runs scored and largest margin of victory since a 14-0 win against the same Trailblazers on April 21, 2022 in Orem.
UP NEXT
The Wolverines will resume WAC play this weekend as the UT Arlington Mavericks make their first-ever trip to Orem. Friday's doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. MDT and Saturday's series finale is scheduled for noon MDT. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
