April 28, 2005

Click Here For UNLV Baseball Weekly Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV embarks on a nine-game, three-week road trip against Mountain West Conference opponents this week, beginning with San Diego State in San Diego. The Rebels will play a three-game series against the Aztecs with the first game set for Friday at 6:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gywnn Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT: UNLV was held to three runs on five hits in an 11-3 loss to UC Riverside at home this past Tuesday night. Tyler Beranek hit his third home run of the season in the defeat, a solo shot that sailed over the score board in left field.

UNLV REBELS(20-23, 14-4 MWC)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(57-47, 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 11.1 runs per game in 18 league contests. As a team UNLV is hitting .292 with 36 home runs. The pitching staff comes into this week's games with a 5.39 ERA. Leading the UNLV offense is Zeke Parraz is hitting .367 with a team-high 51 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 leads the team with 46 strikeouts and he has a 4.21 ERA. Koji Pupo sports a 3-0 record and a 4.62 ERA while Derek Rodriguez is 3- 4 and is second on the squad with 45 strikeouts. He tossed UNLV's first complete game of the season two weeks ago against Utah. Kyle Tabeek leads the club with four saves out of the bullpen and Alex Chalfant has a 3.00 ERA in 21 appearances, giving up just nine earned runs.

SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS:(17-25, 11-7 MWC)Head Coach: Tony Gwynn(81-86, 3rd year):

San Diego State saw its seven-game winning streak snapped Tuesday by Cal State Northridge as the Aztecs lost 5-3. During that streak SDSU has beaten UCLA and then Air Force six straight times. Two of those wins against Air Force were forfeits. SDSU is batting .311 as a team with 21 home runs. The Aztec pitching staff sports a 6.37 ERA. Leading the Aztec offense is Quintin Berry, who is hitting .407 (59-145) with 22 RBI and 11 doubles. James Guerrero leads SDSU with five home runs and 33 RBI. On the mound Bruce Billings is 5-3 with a 3.58 ERA and he leads the MWC in strikeouts with 80. Alex Hinshaw is 4-6 with a 5.02 ERA after joining the Aztecs in February.

ON DECK: UNLV remains on the road with a three-game set against Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo., that starts May 6 at 1:00 p.m.(PT).