Feb. 1, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV will play its home opener this weekend, hosting a three-game series with Pepperdine that begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The two teams will then play Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and the final game will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Rebels are returning home after opeing their season with a three-game series at Cal State Northridge.
THE SERIES: UNLV trails the all-time series with Pepperdine by the slimmest of margins, 15-16 (.483), and the two teams last met this past season. The Rebels opened their 2006 campaign against the Waves, with Pepperdine winning two-of-three in the series.
UNLV(1-2, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 102-85, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV enters this weekend's series at 1-2 after the Rebels dropped two-of-three against Cal State Northridge last weekend. UNLV won the first game, but lost the next two, committing nine errors over the three games. Senior outfielder Blake Gailen had a strong series, hitting .500 (4-8) with a home run and four RBI. He also drew five walks in three games. Efren Navarro Jr. is also swinging a hot bat, hitting .462 (6-13) with three RBI and a double. Junior starter Craig Heyer earned the win for the Rebels, going 6.1 innings and giving up four runs, three earned, to go along with six strikeouts. Marc Baca was been solid out of the bullpen, not allowing a run in two appearances.
PEPPERDINE(0-0, 0-0 West Coast Conference)Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez(School: 113-76, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Waves: This will be the season opener for Pepperdine, which opens the season ranked in a variety of preseason polls. The Waves were picked to win the West Coast Conference and have appeared in three-consecutive regional championship games. Fourth-year head coach Steve Rodriguez returns 16 letterwinners from last year's team that posted a 42-21 overall record, captured the West Coast Conference (WCC) title and made its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006. The Waves' roster is highlighted by the return of WCC Co-Pitcher of the Year Barry Enright, shortstop Danny Worth and junior center fielder Adrian Ortiz.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV baseball won the opening game of its series last weekend against Cal State Northridge, but then lost the next two to begin the season. In the opener the Rebels got a strong outing from Craig Heyer, who gave up four runs, three earned, in 6.1 innings of work to collect the 10-4 win. He got plenty of run support, with Braden Walker and Xavier Scruggs each driving in three runs. In the second game the Rebels comitted four errors that led to seven unearned runs in a 16-7 loss. Keith Smith and Blake Gailen each knocked in a pair of runs on the afternoon, with Gailen hitting his first home run of the year, a solo shot in the fourth inning. UNLV then lost the final game of the series 9-4 on Sunday. Errors hurt the Rebels in the series, as they made nine total.
