University of Northern Colorado Athletics
PREVIEW: UNC Baseball Travels to Orem for Five-Game Set Against Utah Valley
3/5/2026 4:12:00 PM | Baseball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado baseball continues its extended road trip with a five-game series in Orem, Utah against the Utah Valley Wolverines before returning to Jackson Field for its home opener against St. Thomas and the start of conference play next weekend. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 4:05 p.m. MT.
LAST TIMEOUT: Northern Colorado showed resilience and timely execution Wednesday afternoon, outlasting UNLV in a 10-inning battle to secure a hard-fought 9-7 road victory. The Bears struck first with a run in the opening inning before creating separation with a three-run fourth to take early control. Northern Colorado kept the pressure on through the middle innings, adding single runs in the fifth and sixth.
UNLV responded late, capitalizing on key opportunities with three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to swing momentum and eventually tie the game. After the Rebels evened the score in the eighth, the game moved into extra innings with both teams searching for the decisive moment. Northern Colorado found it in the 10th, stringing together quality at-bats and delivering in clutch situations to plate two runs and reclaim the lead.
Jaden Stone led the offense with a standout performance, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Brandon Sanchez set the tone at the top of the lineup by reaching base three times, scoring twice, driving in a run, and stealing a base. Jake Bullard added three hits, while Logan Pruski chipped in with two hits and an RBI as the Bears finished with 13 hits on the night.
NOTES ABOUT THE BEARS: The Bears offense is led by Jaden Stone, who is hitting .373 with a .906 OPS and consistently getting on base. Jake Bullard adds power to the lineup with a .327 average, a .481 slugging percentage, and the team's lone home run. Logan Pruski and Easton Bryant provide steady contact and run production near the top of the order, while Zeke Minic has been highly productive in limited at-bats, hitting .370. The middle of the lineup, including Brett Barber, Mason Griffin, and Ethan Mooser, has contributed extra-base hits and RBIs but has been more inconsistent. Overall, the Bears rely heavily on their top hitters for run production while the rest of the lineup provides depth and situational offense.
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: Utah Valley has been productive offensively, hitting .272 as a team with 101 hits, 73 runs, and 14 home runs through 11 games while posting a strong .397 on-base percentage. The lineup is led by Chipper Beck, who is hitting .423 with a .571 OBP and consistently creating scoring opportunities. Mason Hamlin (.361) and Mason Strong (.325) add reliable contact and run production in the middle of the order.
Kaden Carpenter and Luke Iverson provide the primary power threat, combining for six home runs and 27 RBIs while slugging above .620. The Wolverines have shown aggressiveness on the base paths as well, recording 21 stolen bases as a team. Defensively, Utah Valley has been steady with a .978 fielding percentage and just nine errors. On the mound, the pitching staff holds a 4.84 ERA while limiting opponents to a .235 batting average.
Fans can watch all games via ESPN+ and follow along with updates on the official UNC Baseball social media channels.
ON DECK: The Bears will open Summit League conference play after their five-game series against Utah Valley, hosting St. Thomas for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 13. The match up will also mark the Bears first home game and series of the season.
DIAMOND CLUB
The Diamond Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Baseball program. By giving to the Diamond Club, you help provide access to facility enhancements—such as the Jackson Field Turf Project—along with advanced technology and elevated daily operations, giving our student-athletes the resources to compete and excel at the highest level.
Give to the Diamond Club today!
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, visit uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).
LAST TIMEOUT: Northern Colorado showed resilience and timely execution Wednesday afternoon, outlasting UNLV in a 10-inning battle to secure a hard-fought 9-7 road victory. The Bears struck first with a run in the opening inning before creating separation with a three-run fourth to take early control. Northern Colorado kept the pressure on through the middle innings, adding single runs in the fifth and sixth.
UNLV responded late, capitalizing on key opportunities with three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to swing momentum and eventually tie the game. After the Rebels evened the score in the eighth, the game moved into extra innings with both teams searching for the decisive moment. Northern Colorado found it in the 10th, stringing together quality at-bats and delivering in clutch situations to plate two runs and reclaim the lead.
Jaden Stone led the offense with a standout performance, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Brandon Sanchez set the tone at the top of the lineup by reaching base three times, scoring twice, driving in a run, and stealing a base. Jake Bullard added three hits, while Logan Pruski chipped in with two hits and an RBI as the Bears finished with 13 hits on the night.
NOTES ABOUT THE BEARS: The Bears offense is led by Jaden Stone, who is hitting .373 with a .906 OPS and consistently getting on base. Jake Bullard adds power to the lineup with a .327 average, a .481 slugging percentage, and the team's lone home run. Logan Pruski and Easton Bryant provide steady contact and run production near the top of the order, while Zeke Minic has been highly productive in limited at-bats, hitting .370. The middle of the lineup, including Brett Barber, Mason Griffin, and Ethan Mooser, has contributed extra-base hits and RBIs but has been more inconsistent. Overall, the Bears rely heavily on their top hitters for run production while the rest of the lineup provides depth and situational offense.
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: Utah Valley has been productive offensively, hitting .272 as a team with 101 hits, 73 runs, and 14 home runs through 11 games while posting a strong .397 on-base percentage. The lineup is led by Chipper Beck, who is hitting .423 with a .571 OBP and consistently creating scoring opportunities. Mason Hamlin (.361) and Mason Strong (.325) add reliable contact and run production in the middle of the order.
Kaden Carpenter and Luke Iverson provide the primary power threat, combining for six home runs and 27 RBIs while slugging above .620. The Wolverines have shown aggressiveness on the base paths as well, recording 21 stolen bases as a team. Defensively, Utah Valley has been steady with a .978 fielding percentage and just nine errors. On the mound, the pitching staff holds a 4.84 ERA while limiting opponents to a .235 batting average.
Fans can watch all games via ESPN+ and follow along with updates on the official UNC Baseball social media channels.
ON DECK: The Bears will open Summit League conference play after their five-game series against Utah Valley, hosting St. Thomas for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 13. The match up will also mark the Bears first home game and series of the season.
DIAMOND CLUB
The Diamond Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Baseball program. By giving to the Diamond Club, you help provide access to facility enhancements—such as the Jackson Field Turf Project—along with advanced technology and elevated daily operations, giving our student-athletes the resources to compete and excel at the highest level.
Give to the Diamond Club today!
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, visit uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).
Players Mentioned
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