Feb. 15, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV hits the road for a four-game trip away from Las Vegas, beginning with a three-game set against Cal in Berkeley, Calif. The series will begin Friday at 1:30 p.m. (PST) with game times Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The series with the Golden Bears is the first of three that the Rebels will play against Pac-10 opponents this season.
THE SERIES: UNLV leads the all-time series with Cal 11-7 and the Rebels took two of three from the Golden Bears last year in Las Vegas. After losing the opening game of the series 5-1, the Rebels rebounded to win the next two by scores of 9-6 and 5-4.
UNLV(4-5, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 105-88, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV enters this weekend's series a game below .500 (4-5) after the Rebels only got one of three from visiting No. 9 Cal State Fullerton last weekend. UNLV lost the first two games of the series but won the final on a balk. Blake Gailen is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .484 average (15-31) after going 11-13 last weekend against CSF. He is also pacing the team with 11 runs scored and a .871 slugging percentage. Michael Brenly has driven in 10 runs. Overall the Rebels have five regulars hitting .350 or better. On the mound starter Craig Heyer is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a team-leading 13 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen Marc Baca (1-0) has given up one earned run in five appearances. The sophomore has struck out five batters and has a 1.00 ERA in nine innings of work.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA(4-2, 0-0 Pac-10 Conference)Head Coach: David Esquer(School: 205-191, 7th Year - Career: Same)
The Golden Bears: This will be the final series of a three-week homestand for Cal, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped this past Tuesday. Cal lost a 15-6 decision to San Franciso and prior to that had won four in a row, two each against Portland and UC Irvine. David Copper is leading the Golden Bear offense, hitting .571 (12-21) with two doubles, a home run and six RBI. On the mound Tyson Ross is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: Playing a ranked opponent at home for the second straight weekend, UNLV dropped the first two games aginst No. 9 Cal State Fullerton before winning on getaway day. In the opener UNLV had runners on first and second and just one out trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth. Rebel senior Keith Smith was at the plate and scalded a ball to third for a game-ending double play. Saturday's game saw the Rebels fall behind early and they could not recover in losing 13-4. A wild Sunday awaited both teams though, as UNLV battled back from three-different three run deficits to come back and win 12-11. UNLV senior Blake Gailen, who had an amazing series, scored the winning run on a balk with two out in the bottom of the ninth. On the afternoon the two teams combined for 30 hits as the wind was blowing out of Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Gailen finished the series going 11-for-13 (.846) with a home run, a triple, two doubles and five RBI. He racked up 20 total bases and stole four bases.
