OREM, Utah – The UT Arlington Mavericks close out the regular season with a three-game Western Athletic Conference series at Utah Valley beginning Thursday at UCCU Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
UTA enters the weekend at 18-28 overall and 7-8 in WAC play, while Utah Valley comes in at 16-35 and 2-13 in conference action. A series sweep could move the Mavericks as high as the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 20 in Mesa, Arizona.
GAME INFO
OPPONENT: Utah Valley (16-35, 2-13 WAC)
WHEN: Thursday, May 14 (7:05 p.m.) | Friday, May 15 (6:05 p.m.) | Saturday, May 16 (1:05 p.m.)
WHERE: Orem, Utah | UCCU Ballpark
WATCH + FOLLOW: ESPN+ | Live stats available via UTAMavs.com
GAME NOTES
Senior infielder
Xavier Melendez continues to lead the Maverick offense, hitting .353 with 66 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs and 36 RBIs while posting a .487 slugging percentage across 44 starts.
Hank Harp (.329, 27 hits, 13 RBIs) has been one of the hottest hitters in the lineup down the stretch, capped by his walk-off three-run home run on Senior Day last Sunday to clinch a WAC Tournament berth.
Harold Laracuente (.292, 49 hits, 14 doubles, 36 runs scored),
Xander McAfee (.277, 46 hits, 13 doubles, six home runs, 36 RBIs) and
Preston Knott (.265, 35 hits, four home runs) round out a productive Maverick lineup.
Austin Phillips,
Noah Fields and others continue to provide depth as UTA heads into the final weekend of the regular season.
On the mound,
Merek Sears leads the staff with a 2.79 ERA across 22 appearances, working 48.1 innings with 45 strikeouts and two saves.
Hayes Melville has been dominant out of the bullpen with a 3.00 ERA, five saves and a 3-0 record over 23 appearances. Junior right-hander
Caylon Dygert anchors the rotation at 3.48 ERA over 12 starts, logging 72.1 innings with 49 strikeouts — a performance that earned him WAC Pitcher of the Week honors following last Friday's seven-inning shutout of Utah Tech.
-#BuckEm-
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