March 14, 2005
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV wraps up its five-game road trip against Pac-10 opponents with a two-game set against Arizona on March 15 and 16. UNLV played a three-game series against California last weekend.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV rebounded from dropping the opening game of its three game series against Cal by winning the final two games, putting together the Rebels' first winning streak of 2005. In the series opener UNLV was mauled by the Golden Bears 13-2 but the Rebels didn't let that set the tone for the rest of the series. UNLV rebounded to post a 5-2 in the middle game of the series, as CJ Lang sparked the Rebels' offense with three hits and two runs scored in five at-bats. Efren Navarro Jr. earned his first win of the season in the victory and Matt Fry also drove in three runs. In the final game of the series UNLV won 7-4 to string together back-to-back wins for the first time in 2005. Matt Luca allowed just one unearned run in over 6.2 innings and Justin Tellam and Ryan Bird each hit solo home runs in the win. It was Tellam's fourth shot of the season while Bird became the first Rebel other than Tellam to hit a home run in 2005.
ON DECK: UNLV returns home this coming weekend to open up Mountain West Conference play against Air Force at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The opening game of the series is Friday with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown at 6:30 p.m. (PST).
UNLV REBELS (5-14, 0-0 MWC): Slugging sophomore catcher Justin Tellam leads the Rebels with a team-high four home runs and his .304 batting average is second on the team. CJ Lang has moved comfortably into the leadoff spot and is batting .304 and has a team-high .435 on-base percentage and 13 walks and 15 runs. Efren Navarro Jr. is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA while Eric Brock is 1-2. Overall on the mound for the Rebels right hander Matt Luca earned his first win in six starts last weekend against Cal and his 3.25 ERA is tops among UNLV starters. Luca also leads the Rebels with 23 strikeouts and 36.0 innings pitched. Kyle Tabeek and Derek Rodriguez each have a save this season for the Rebels.
ARIZONA: (14-6 0-0 PAC-10): The Wildcats enter this week's games winners of two of their last three after taking two of three from Mississippi State. Arizona won the opening two games 9-3 and 7-3 but lost the final game in a slugfest 13-12. The Wildcats have made a living at home, playing 17 or their 20 games in Tucson. Jeff Van Horten leads the Wildcats with a .440 average (37-84). UA's top power threat is Jordan Brown, who has hit six home runs and driven in 30 runs. On the hill Eric Berger and David Coulon are a combined 3-0.
UNLV AGAINST ARIZONA: The Rebels trail the all-time series against Arizona 5-6 (.454). UNLV lost two games against the Wildcats at home last season, 11-2 and 10-9.
