DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis baseball continues the 2024 season, hosting Big 12 member BYU for a three-game series starting Thursday.

The Aggies kickstarted the season with their first series opening win since the abbreviated 2020 season which saw the Aggies down the Pac-12's own Utah for a series at Dobbins Stadium.

The games against BYU this weekend will all be available to be followed through live stats on ucdavisaggies.com/livestats, while Friday's game is the first slated coverage through ESPN+ of the season for the Aggies. Greg Wong and Bob Dunning are set to call the action.

GAME SCHEDULE (GAMES 4-6)
- Thursday, February 22 | 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 23 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+
- Saturday, February 24 | 11:00 a.m.

PROJECTED STARTERS
- Game 1: UC Davis LHP Bryan Green vs. BYU RHP Ben Hansen
- Game 2: UC Davis LHP Mason Lerma vs. BYU LHP Cutter Clawson
- Game 3: UC Davis RHP Noel Valdez vs. BYU RHP Candon Dahle

TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets and Flexbooks are now available for purchase. Fans can head over to ucdavisaggies.com/tickets, email aggietickets@ucdavis.edu, or call (530) 752-2471 for more information.

ABOUT THE COUGARS
BYU started off the 2024 season with a 1-2 showing at the MLB Desert Invitational, beating USC in their opening game 8-1, before falling to Ohio State and GCU the following two games. Last season BYU was 24-28 while posting a 13-14 mark during Big 12 play. To begin the year, the Cougars have been led by Kuhio Aloe and Luke Anderson, who both lead BYU in hits with five. Aloy has two home runs already on the season with a team-high four RBI.

• All-Time Series: 1-3 UC Davis trails (fifth all-time meeting)
• Last Series: Feb. 25 & 27, 2010 (2-1 BYU)
• Last Meeting: L 8-4 (Feb. 27, 2010)
• All previous meetings also at UC Davis

AGGIE SCOOP
The Aggies are ready to make some noise in the upcoming season, with a mix of experienced hitters and promising growth on the mound. The Aggies feature a deep and versatile lineup, highlighted by six returning players who have proven themselves at the D1 level. Among the crop of players who will be on everyone's radar for the Aggies is Mark Wolbert.

The Aggies are poised to make a splash in the upcoming season, boasting a balanced offense and a promising pitching staff. Their lineup is deep and versatile, featuring six returnees who have established themselves at the D1 level. One of the most notable players on the Aggies' roster is Mark Wolbert, an outfielder who can do it all.
Wolbert entered last season as the top MLB Draft prospect in the Big West for the 2024 class. He has above average speed and arm strength, making him a reliable defender in center field. He will anchor the Aggies' outfield again in Tommy Nicholson's third year as the head coach. Wolbert is ranked this season as the 16th best prospect in the Big West by D1Baseball for the 2024 MLB Draft.

Joining him in the outfield is Damian Stone, a speedy runner who can wreak havoc on the base paths and score runs. Equipped with good plate discipline and a knack for getting on base, as well as some pop in his bat, Stone is fully healthy this season and eager to display his skills in his senior year.

Another outfielder who has already made an immediate impact is Tyler Howard, a freshman who has impressed with his athleticism and rapid growth since his arrival on campus. He is a toolsy player with perhaps the purest speed on the team and that was on full display during opening weekend as Howard leads the team in hitting currently, going 6-11 in the opening weekend against Seattle U.

Also making a splash over the weekend was Leighton Helfrick who was 5-9 on the weekend with four RBI as the sophomore picked up a pair in both of his starts. The Aggie staff is excited for his growth this coming season and he should provide the Aggies a big spark in the lineup either in right field or in the designated hitter spot.

ON THE MOUND
The Aggies' pitching staff is led by left-hander Bryan Green, who has increased his velocity every year and can touch 94 mph with his fastball. He is a durable and dependable starter who can pitch deep into games. He will be the ace of the staff and a mentor for the young pitchers.

Behind Green, there are several young arms who could make a difference this season, such as Sal Batres, Mason Lerma, Carter Speights and newcomer Noel Valdez. They are all expected to get significant innings this spring and help the Aggies' pitching depth.

Batres is a freshman who could be a key piece in the bullpen or in the rotation, with a 90+ fastball and a sharp slider. He is one of the most polished pitchers on the team, despite his youth. He made two appearances out of the pen this weekend and was solid in both outings.

Valdez is a junior college transfer who is a proven strike thrower, who keeps hitters off balance with a three pitch mix. He is a reliable starter who showed flashes of his stuff during his start this past Sunday.

Lerma and Speights are both young and inexperienced, but they have the potential to be big factors in the 2024 season and beyond. Speights has some of the most electric stuff on the team and could earn some high-leverage roles as the season goes on. Lerma is a crafty left-hander who has excellent pitch ability. He uses command and deception to get outs, and he will start on Saturday's like he did last weekend for the foreseeable future.

Carter Delaney was maybe the most impressive arm for the Aggies during opening weekend, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief, and earning the win in UC Davis' series clinching win over Seattle U.

ACROSS THE INFIELD
As seen throughout opening weekend, the infield will feature a formidable trio of Alex Gouveia, Joey Wright and Nick Leehey.
Gouveia, an all-league selection last year, anchors the Aggies' defense and offense. He resumes his role as a key hitter in the Aggies' lineup, with his knack for hitting line drives to all fields. He also has the versatility to play multiple positions on the infield, having mainly played second base last year, but also capable of handling shortstop and third base. He is a reliable defender who rarely commits errors. He is a true leader and an energetic player who elevates his teammates. He hit .313 last year with 20 doubles, and he will aim to replicate that success this year. He started all three games to begin the season at third base.

Leehey and Wright will complement Gouveia on the infield, providing offensive production and defensive stability.

Leehey is a versatile player who can play any infield position and both corner outfield spots. He is one of the best pure hitters on the team, who has demonstrated his ability to hit the ball to both gaps and pull it with power since his freshman year. He is a valuable asset for the team, as he can fill any role and add depth to the roster. He started all three games at second base against Seattle U and showed off his power, blasting the Aggies first and lone home run of the opening series.

Wright is one of the most thrilling players in the nation to watch. He is a smooth-fielding shortstop, who scouts regard as a "plus plus defender". He has great instincts and baseball IQ, which he applies on both sides of the ball. He is a tempo-setter at the plate, with a keen eye for the strike zone. He set a school record for walks as a freshman, and he will look to add some power to his game to be a consistent threat at the top of the order. He has the most "MLB ready" skills on the team, with his elite defense, and D1Baseball ranked him as the seventh best Big West prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft.

Ethan Felix and Jason Hanson also served as the Aggies first baseman over the opening series with Felix standing out with an impressive 5-7 performance from the plate across two games. Both should see ample opportunities and time throughout the season.

UP NEXT
The Aggies will host Pacific for their first mid-week matchup of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 27. First-pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. (PT) barring any changes that need to be accounted for due to weather. That game coverage should be provided by Greg Wong and Bob Dunning through ESPN+.