May 6, 2004
LAS VEGAS - The first-place UNLV baseball team (28-17, 15-5 MWC) will look to stay atop the Mountain West Conference standings, as they play host to third-place San Diego State this weekend. The game times for this weekend will be: Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Sunday's game has been moved up an hour to accommodate the Aztecs' travel schedule. All three games will be broadcast live on KSHP 1400 AM and be available via Internet gametracker at www.unlvrebels.com .
The Rebels have gotten a huge boost from this week's Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Eric Nielsen, who over the last week is hitting .667 with 13 RBI and 4 home runs. Over the same stretch, third baseman Zeke Parraz has been stellar at the plate, recording a .773 average with 5 RBI and 2 home runs.
On the mound, Friday's starter, senior right-hander David Seccombe, is a perfect 5-0 in MWC contests and 7-1 on the year. Saturday's starter Jake Vose leads the Rebel starters with a 4.31 ERA and 79.1 innings pitched. Sophomore Matt Luca, who leads the club with 72 strikeouts, will return to the starting rotation on Sunday.
San Diego State moved remained in second place in the Mountain West Conference despite taking two-of-three from New Mexico last weekend. The Aztecs also notched a non-conference victory over USC on Tuesday.
Freshman third baseman Brock Ungricht leads the MWC in hitting with a .440 conference average while shortstop James Guerrero is hitting .400 with 4 RBI and 2 home runs over the last five games.
The Aztecs will start the double threat of Scott Shoemaker (8-5, 3.56 ERA) and Daryl Harang (4-4, 3.62 ERA) on Friday and Saturday respectively. Shoemaker has won seven straight and has a 1.84 ERA in his last eight outings. Harang was named the MWC's Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday after keeping New Mexico scoreless through eight innings last weekend. Freshman Bruce Billings (3-1, 5.70) wil start on Sunday for the Aztecs.
The Rebels will remain at home to host MWC rival Utah on May 14-16. That series will include a Saturday doubleheader to make up for a 4/18 game that was rained out in Salt Lake City. The Rebels will rap up regular season play as they head to New Mexico on May 20-22.
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