May 22, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior Keith Smith was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, the second time that the junior has earned the award this season, the league announced today.

Smith, an Anaheim, Calif., native, hit .625 (10-for-16) with five home runs, two doubles, 17 RBI and eight runs scored in the Rebels' three-game sweep of Air Force last week. In the opening game he went 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in eight runs while also scoring three times in the 18-6 win. In game two Smith slugged two more home runs on his way to a 3-for-7 outing. He knocked in four runs, while scoring a pair of as well in UNLV's 18-3 win. Smith capped the weekend by going 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored as the Rebels finished the sweep with an 18-4 win. He hit his fifth homer and laced two doubles in game three. Smith did not commit an error defensively and had seven putouts and three assists.

Pitcher of the Week honors went to TCU hurler Jake Arrieta after he pitched six shutout innings against New Mexico last Friday, earning the victory in the Horned Frogs 15-2 game win.

UNLV begins defense of its three-consecutive Mountain West Conference titles on Tuesday, playing New Mexico ay 7:00 p.m. (PDT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.