April 25, 2005
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV wraps up a four-game home stand with a non-conference game Tuesday against UC Riverside with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. This will be the second time this year that the Rebels play the Highlanders, as UCR beat UNLV 7-3 in Riverside, Calif., back on April 5.
LAST TIME OUT: UNLV's bats carried it to a three-game sweep of New Mexico, as the Rebels erupted for 47 runs in the series and moved into a tie for first-place in the MWC.
UNLV REBELS (20-22, 14-4 MWC) Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith (57-46, 2nd year): UNLV moved into a tie with BYU in the Mountain West Conference as both teams sport 14-4 league marks. The Rebels are averaging 10.5 runs per game in 18 league contests. As a team UNLV is hitting .295 with 35 home runs. The pitching staff comes into this week's games with a 5.40 ERA. Leading the UNLV offense is first baseman Chris Bonnell, who is hitting .324 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. Zeke Parraz is hitting .362 with a team-high 50 RBI. Justin Tellam leads the club with 11 home runs. JC Sibley has settled into the lead off spot as he is hitting .368 and has stolen eight bases in 10 attempts. Matt Luca has a 3-5 record but the senior missed his last start due to the flu. Luca is second on the team with 44 strikeouts and he has a 4.26 ERA. Koji Pupo sports a 3-0 record and a 4.62 ERA while Derek Rodriguez is 3- 4 with a team-high 45 strikeouts. He tossed UNLV's first complete game of the season two weeks ago against Utah. Kyle Tabeek leads the club with three saves out of the bullpen and Alex Chalfant has a 3.08 ERA in 20 appearances, giving up just nine earned runs.
UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS:(18-19, 4-5 BIG WEST)Head Coach: Doug Smith(18-19, 1st year):
UC Riverside brings a 18-19 record into Tuesday's game, 4-5 in the Big West Conference. As a team the Highlanders are hitting .255 with 23 home runs. UCR's pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.83. The Highlanders are led offensively by Aaron Grant, who is hitting .348 with a home run and 23 RBI. Matt Cunningham leads UCR with eight home runs and 32 RBI. On the mound Jose Shaw is 1-3 in five starts and 10 appearances overall with a 5.46 ERA.
ON DECK: UNLV begins a three-week, nine-game road trip against Mountain West Conference opponents with the first series against San Diego State. The Rebels open the series Friday at 6:00 p.m. (PT) in San Diego, Calif.
