March 7, 1999

LAS VEGAS - UNLV swept a three-game series from Air Force to open WAC play on Friday-Sunday, March 5-7, at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

UNLV, which has won three straight and five out of six, dominated the series and outscored Air Force 43-7. UNLV won by the scores of 13-1, 15-3, 15-3.

On Friday, junior right-hander Bryan Gidge led UNLV with a strong performance on the mound to improve his record to 3-1. He pitched his second complete game of the season (leads staff) with a five-hitter and allowed just 1 run, walked 2 and tied his career-high with 7 strikeouts. Senior third baseman Chris Gillette, who went 10-for-14 (.714) with 5 doubles in the series, was 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBI. Gillette batted .640 (16-for-25) in five games this past week, which included hitting for the cycle against Loyola Marymount on March 3. Junior All-American outfielder Ryan Ludwick was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.

On Saturday, freshman right-hander Joe Maruffi recorded his first collegiate win. He pitched 6 innings, allowed 2 hits, 2 runs and struck out 4. Junior designated hitter Tony DeMarco was 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI. Seven Rebels collected 2 or more hits (Chris Adolph 2-for-5; Gillette 2-for-5; Ludwick 2-for-2; Nate Kaup 2-for-4; Brian Hertel 2-for-3; Harold Betts 2-for-5).

On Sunday, junior right-hander Andy McCulloch put together another strong outing to improve to 2-2. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 5 hits, 2 runs and struck out a career-high 7.

UNLV tied its season-high with 20 hits. Gillette was 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and Ludwick was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run to lead UNLV in the six-run second inning. Junior first baseman Brian Hertel was 4-for-4 with a double, his first two home runs of the season and 2 RBI.

UNLV will host BYU in a WAC three-game series on Thursday-Friday-Saturday, March 11-12-13 at Wilson Stadium. The game times are 3:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m.; 1:05 p.m. The three-game series will be broadcast on KSFN 1140-AM radio with Scott Robbs and Scott Taylor.