Feb. 13, 2003

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UNLV PROBABLE PITCHERSFriday: Robbie Van LHPSaturday: Jake Vose LHPSunday: David Seccombe RHP
CAL STATE FULLERTON PROBABLE PITCHERSFriday: Wes Littleton RHPSaturday: Ryan Schreppel LHPSunday: Dustin Miller RHP

The Rebels improved to 5-1 after sweeping College of Charleston last week. Sophomore outfielder Eric Nielsen, this week's MWC Player of the Week, hit .833 with three doubles, a home run and a pair of RBIs vs. CC.

The Rebels pitching staff has struck out 51 batters in 53 innings played this season. Juniors Robbie Van and David Seccombe have teamed up for 26 strikeouts in 19 innnings pitched.

Shortstop Peter White initiated a triple play for the Rebels in game three vs. College Charleston after snagging a line drive, stepping on second and throwing to first to complete the play.

Eddie Gill hit the Rebels' first grand slam of the season in dramatic fashion as he broke a 9-9 eighth-inning tie with CC in game three, giving UNLV a 13-9 win and a series sweep.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

The Titans, who are 6-0 on the season after sweeps of Stanford and Fresno State, moved up from seventh to third in the Collegiate Baseball poll, behind only Texas and Florida State. They are ranked sixth in the Baseball America poll and fifth in the Sports Weekly/ESPN coaches poll. The Titans have not been ranked this high since they finished the 2001 season as the consensus No. 3 team in the nation.

Right-handed pitcher Wes Littleton has been named the National Pitcher of the Week by Collegiate Baseball and has also garnered Big West Pitcher of the Week honors. Teammate Danny Dorn earned co-Big West Player of the Week honors.

Fullerton was scheduled to play UCLA on Wednesday, but the game was canceled due to heavy rain. No make-up date has been announced.

SERIES VS. CAL STATE FULLERTON

Fullerton holds a 52-15 advantage in the all-time series. The Titans took all three meetings last season (12-2, 16-1 and 13-1) and have won the last 10. UNLV's last victory came on February 20, 1998, at Fullerton.

INJURY UPDATE

None

HITTING STREAKS

Eric Nielsen and Andrew D'Angelo have four-game hitting streaks heading into the Cal State Fullerton series.

NIELSEN NAMED MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK - FEBRUARY 10

Eric Nielsen was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week after the Rebels three-game sweep over College of Charletson. Nielsen, from Las Vegas, Nev. (Silverado HS), posted an .833 batting average. In two games played, he went 5-for-6 from the plate with three doubles, two RBI and a home run.

BASEBALL AMERICA

Baseball America predicts UNLV will finish second in the Mountain West Conference this season, behind first place San Diego State.

Other preseason conference honors include Ryan Ruiz, Brent Johnson and Robbie Van on the preseason all-conference list. Van is also picked as the preseason MWC Pitcher of the Year.

Four of the five "top newcomer" picks belong to the Rebels (Ryan Braun, Stephen Ghutzman, Fernando Valenzuela and Patrick Dobson).

EARLY RECOGNITION

Junior RHP Robbie Van was named the No. 18 prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League by Baseball America. League managers and professional scouts were polled for the list, which included the top 30 players from the summer circuit.

Baseball America began rating the best Cape Cod League prospects in 1990.

Excerpt From Baseball America on Robbie Van: As a lefthanded reliever, Van could be on an express route to the majors. He opened the summer on Yarmouth-Dennis as a fill-in player, and when the Red Sox ran out of roster spots he joined Orleans. Van throws a low-90s fastball and had the consensus best slider on the Cape.

PICKED THIRD BY THE CONFERENCE

For the fourth straight year, San Diego State has been picked to win the Mountain West Conference regular season baseball championship. In a vote of the six MWC head coaches, the Aztecs received five of six first-place votes, while New Mexico received one.

The Aztecs collected 25 points to capture the top spot in the poll. BYU earned 19 points to place second in the poll, followed by UNLV (17 points), Utah (12 points), New Mexico (11 points) and Air Force (six points).

After placing fifth in the MWC race three straight years, UNLV was picked third in this year's poll. The Rebels were 30-30 (13-17 MWC) overall last year under first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle.

SCHLOSSNAGLE RADIO SHOW

UNLV baseball fans will have the opportunity to hear from head coach Jim Schlossnagle each Monday on the "Jim Schlossnagle Radio Show".

The half-hour radio show, featuring the Rebels' second-year head coach, will air each Monday at 6 p.m. on KSHP 1400AM. The weekly radio show will originate during the course of the regular season from Glory Days Grill at 10075 S. Eastern Avenue in Henderson.

AUTOMATIC BID

Twenty-nine conferences receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. 2001 marked the first season the Mountain West Conference received an automatic bid. The winner of the MWC Championships, held in Albuquerque, N.M. May 21-24, will receive the automatic bid.

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

The 2003 Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship will be hosted by New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M.. All six Mountain West Conference teams will compete in the double-elimination tournament May 21-24. Seedings will be decided by regular season results in conference games.

All requests for media credentials for the Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship should be submitted in writing to Assistant Director of Communications Ron Christian at the MWC office or New Mexico Baseball Contact Ron Gonzales prior to the event.