FRESNO, Calif.-Friday, Utah Valley baseball commences its 2019 campaign with a four-game non-conference series against the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Mountain West Conference.

The Wolverines are seeking to overcome the ill effects of a 15-37 (6-18 in WAC play) 2018 season that saw them finish ninth in the WAC.

The Wolverines return 17 letter-winners from 2018 and welcome in 15 newcomers, including 10 true freshmen and five JUCO transfers.

UVU will go with senior pitcher Jake Carr on the mound Friday. Last season, the native of Norwalk, Calif. went 4-1 in relief, amassing 28 strikeouts in 28 innings of work in 2018.

The Wolverines are 4-11 all-time in season openers at the Division I level and 10-40-1 all-time on opening weekend.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 30-24 (13-17 in Mountain West Conference play) season in 2018 and were picked to finish third in the conference by media.

Fresno State’s returning stars are senior outfielder Zach Ashford and junior catcher Carter Bins.

Ashford was a second-team all-Mountain West performer in 2018, hitting .352 with 77 hits and 18 doubles in 2018.

Bins was the 2017 Mountain West freshman of the year and batted .301 last season, amassing 18 doubles and 39 RBI.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against the Wolverines 2-1. A chance exists that with rain forecast for the area, game times and schedules for this series may be altered.