April 21, 2005
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV begins the second half of Mountain West Conference play this weekend, hosting New Mexico for a three-game series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. UNLV has an 11-4 MWC record and is a game back of BYU (12-3). The Rebels are two games ahead of UNM (9-6) in the battle for the second seed and a first-round bye in the MWC Tournament. The first game of the UNLV-UNM series is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m. (PT) while the other two are day games on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV finished the first half of Mountain West Conference play by winning two of three games from Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. After dropping the first game to the Utes 9-5, the Rebels rebounded to win the next two games of the series. In the middle game last Saturday the Rebels pounded out a season-high 21 hits, including four home runs, that led to an 18-15 victory. Chris Bonnell led the way with two round trippers and CJ Lang went 4-6 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored. Tyler Beranek also hit a home run and JC Sibley added three hits and three RBI. In the final game of the series UNLV starter Derek Rodriguez tossed the team's first complete game this season, allowing nine hits and three runs in the 11-3 Rebel win.
UNLV REBELS(17-22, 11-4 MWC)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(54-46, 2nd year):
UNLV begins the second half of Mountain West Conference play one game out of first place with an 11-4 league mark. The Rebels are averaging 10.5 runs per game in 15 league contests. As a team UNLV is hitting .283 with 30 home runs. The pitching staff comes into this week's games with a 5.21 ERA. Leading the UNLV offense is first baseman Chris Bonnell, who is hitting .325 (41-126) with seven home runs and 31 RBI. Zeke Parraz is hitting .331 with a team-high 37 RBI. Justin Tellam leads the club with 10 home runs. JC Sibley has settled into the lead off spot as he is hitting .329 and has stolen eight bases in 10 attempts. Matt Luca has won three of his last six starts and brings a 3-5 record into his start on Friday. Luca leads the team with 44 strikeouts and he has a 4.26 ERA. Koji Pupo sports a 3-0 record and a 4.53 ERA while Derek Rodriguez is 3-4 with 42 strikeouts. He tossed UNLV's first complete game of the season in his last start against Utah. Kyle Tabeek leads the club with three saves out of the bullpen and Alex Chalfant has a 2.49 ERA in 20 appearances, giving up just seven earned runs.
NEW MEXICO LOBOS:(19-19, 9-6 MWC)Head Coach: Rich Alday(946-661-3, 33rd year):
New Mexico comes into this weekend's series having lost to No. 5 Arizona 14-3 at home, a team that UNLV split two games with earlier this season. The Lobos have one of the top offenses in the league and are led by Jordan Pacheco, who is hitting .408 with eight home runs and 31 RBI. Daniel Stovall (43 RBI) and Chris Carlson (46 RBI) also drive runs for a UNM offense that has scored a league-high 318 runs. On the mound Darren Coltrinari and Jason Fernandez each have a team-high six wins this season. UNM's team ERA is 7.61.
ON DECK: UNLV hosts UC Riverside next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before heading out on a three-week road trip that begins with a three-game series at San Diego State.
