Season Opener At UC Riverside

A three-game series this weekend at UC Riverside starts the baseball season for both BYU and the Highlanders.

Not only are the Cougars anxious to start the season, but they hope to use the pre-season as a springboard to prove they are better than the fifth-place league prognostication.

“We are excited to be outside again,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “It is nice to have an indoor facility, but the game is meant to be played outside. We have the 31st-toughest schedule in the country (according to Boyd’s World).”

Scheduled to start on the mound on Friday at UC Riverside for BYU are its most- experienced pitcher, junior Justin Shutt (1-0, 8.59) and sophomore Shawn Hardesty (0-0, 7.24) in the nightcap. On Saturday freshman Chunner Nyberg (0-0, 0.00) takes the hill for the Cougars.

Originally, the doubleheader was supposed to be played on Saturday, but the team got word Thursday of an approaching storm which modified the schedule.

Cougar sophomore Stephen Wells brings a 15-game hitting streak into this season from 2007, prior to serving a church mission.

BYU was 30-24 last season, while UC Riverside was 33-20. UC Riverside leads the series, 14-10. UC Riverside has the 26th toughest schedule in the nation, according to Boyd’s World.

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