Feb. 27, 2006
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX UNLV was originally scheduled to play UC Irvine in California on Tuesday but with rain in the forecast in California and Southern Nevada, the game has been tentatively moved to Las Vegas. The game is slated as of right now to start at 6:30 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, depending on weather conditions.
LAST TIME OUT After dropping the first game of its series against Eastern Michigan 9-7 in 13 innings, UNLV won the next two games in the series in dominating fashion 18-5 and 23-5. The loss on Friday was the seventh loss in a row for the Rebels, the third-longest streak in the history of the program. The game was knotted at seven after Blake Gailen hit a solo home run in the 10th, but the Eagles plated two runs in the top of the 13th to get the win. UNLV responded in a big way though in stringing together its first winning streak of the season. The Rebels used 17 hits to score their 18 and of those hits just three were for extra bases and no one hit a home run. Mike Cruz finished the game 4-5 with three RBI while Braden Walker scored four runs. In the series capper the game was close early and UNLV had a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of fifth before exploding for 18 runs over the next four innings. Zach Borba led the offensive onslaught with a 5-5 effort and Keith Smith added a two-run home run.
UNLV(3-8, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(75-61, 3rd year; Overall, same)
The Rebels: UNLV enters Tuesday's game against UC Irvine with a 3-8 record after it took two of three against Eastern Michigan. The Rebels had a strong weekend at the plate, plating 48 runs on 53 hits. Zach Borba leads the Rebel regulars in batting average with a .469 clip (15-32) after he went 9-12 at the plate against EMU. Chris Bonnell pacess the team with 17 hits and 12 RBI. Xavier Scruggs leads the Rebels with two home runs and Mike Cruz has drawn seven walks and also been hit by pitches six times. Chris Saddoris (2-2) has a 3.52 ERA and leads the Rebel staff with four starts and 23.0 innings of work from the mound. Alex Chalfant and Eric Brock each have made four appearances out of the Rebel bullpen. Kevin Skogley leads the team in strikeouts with 13.
UC Irvine(9-5, 0-0 Big West Conference)Head Coach: Dave Serrano(31-25, 2nd year; Overall, same)
The Anteaters: UC Irvine comes into Tuesday's game riding a five-game winning streak that includes victories over San Diego State, San Diego and Cal State Fullerton. UCI has five players hitting over .300 and are led by Chad Lundahl who is hitting .340 with four doubles and four RBI. Taylor Holiday has driven in 12 runs and Jaime Martinez has hit two home runs. Gary Nakashima, who is scheduled to start Tuesday, is 0-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five appearances. This will be his third start of the year and he has 15 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work.
THE SERIES UNLV trails the all-time series with UC Irvine 32-39-2 (.444). The Rebels split a pair of games last year with the Anteaters.
