ABOUT NEVADA
Nevada is 12-9 on the season after going 5-2 last week ... The Wolf Pack has the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week in Mallary Darby, who struck out 26 and yielded just one run last week in 21 innings of work ... Nevada is riding a 14-game home winning streak into this weekend’s tournament ... This is the first tournament the Pack has hosted at Hixson Park, which opened in 2007 ... For the second straight week, Nevada is receiving votes in both Top 25 polls ... The Wolf Pack returned 13 letterwinners from last year, including seven starting position players and one pitcher ... Of the returners, seven earned first- or second-team All-WAC honors in 2008 ... Topping the list of returnees is sophomore catcher Noelle Micka, a second-team NFCA All-American in 2008; junior pitcher Katie Holverson, a second-team NFCA All-West Region honoree in 2008; and senior outfielder Brittany Puzey, an honorable mention NFCA All-West Region selection in 2007 ... Nevada went 44-18 overall in 2008 and captured its first WAC regular season crown with a 16-2 record ... The Wolf Pack advanced to the NCAA Regionals, where it fell in the title game at UCLA ... Nevada is led by first-year coach Matt Meuchel, who was an assistant here for four years (2003-06) before spending two years at Oklahoma State ... His staff includes fourth-year assistant Melanie Meuchel and first-year assistant coach Lisa Dodd.
ABOUT THIS TOURNAMENT
Nevada will play five games this weekend and eight games will be played overall this weekend at the Wolf Pack Classic at Hixson Park. The Wolf Pack will play twice on Friday, opening the event against Oregon and then taking on Pacific. On Saturday, Nevada will play a single game against Oregon. On Sunday, Nevada and Southern Utah will face off in a doubleheader.
All games will be played at Hixson Park and will be available via Live Stats at www.nevadawolfpack.com. The complete schedule:
FRIDAY
10:00 AM Southern Utah (H) vs. Oregon
12:30 PM Nevada vs. Oregon (H)
3:00 PM Nevada (H) vs Pacific
SATURDAY
10:00 AM Southern Utah vs Pacific (H)
12:30 PM Southern Utah vs. Oregon (H)
3:00 PM Nevada (H) vs. Oregon
SUNDAY
11:00 AM Nevada vs. Southern Utah (H)
1:30 PM Nevada (H) vs. Southern Utah
Notes: Team listed first is in the first base dugout; (H) Indicates home team; International tie-breaker in the 8th; 8-run rule in effect.
SCOUTING OREGON
The Ducks enter this weekend with an 8-12 overall record. At the plate, Neena Bryant leads the way with a .381 batting average in 20 games this season. Cortney Kivett (.344) and Sari Jane (Jenkins) are also hitting better than .300 while Monique Fuiava is the power threat with seven home runs and 14 RBI on the year.
In the circle, the Ducks have used four pitchers this year and have a team earned-run average of 2.78. Mikayla Endicott (2-2) leads the team with a 1.75 ERA while Sa Skillingstad has the most starts and has a 6-3 mark with a 1.79 ERA.
Oregon is coached by Kathy Arendsen, who is in here seventh year at the school and 20th year overall.
Nevada is 2-7 all-time against Oregon.
SCOUTING PACIFIC
The Tigers are 6-7-1 on the year and have not won a game in their last four outings. Pacific is coached by Brian Kolze, who is won more than 500 games in his 16-plus years at the school.
Offensively, the Tigers boast a team batting of average of .298 and have five players hitting above .300 on the year. Karie Wilson leads the team with a .385 average while Nicole Matson and Amanda Collier each have two home runs on the year.
In the circle, Chelsea Engle and Heidi Helberg are the primary starters. Engle is 3-4 with a 4.37 ERA while Helberg is 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA.
Pacific leads the all-time series between the schools 10-7.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
Nevada beat Southern Utah earlier this year, taking a 4-2 decision at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in southern Nevada. The Pack is 3-1 all-time against the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds enter the week 6-11 on the year and have won four of their last five with wins over Utah State, Northern Colorado, New Mexico State and South Alabama last week at the Diamond Devil Invitational hosted by Arizona State.
Darlene and Caroline Fernandez each enter this week’s tournament with batting averages over .300.
Nevada's complete weekly notes package can be found by clicking the PDF link at the top of the page.
