Feb. 8, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV wraps up a six-game homestand by welcoming in No. 9 Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The first game is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m. (PST), followed by games on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The series with the Titans marks the second-straight weekend the Rebels have hosted a top-20 team after playing No. 19 Pepperdine last weekend.
THE SERIES: UNLV trails the all-time series with Cal State Fullerton 65-17 and the Titans swept the Rebels in a three-game series last year at CSF. The last time the two teams met in Las Vegas was in 2005 and the Rebels took the opening game of the series 6-5 before dropping the next two.
UNLV(3-3, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 104-86, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV enters this weekend's series back at .500 (3-3) after the Rebels took two of three from visiting Pepperdine last weekend. UNLV lost the first game of the series but rebounded to win the next two. Efren Navarro Jr. is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .423 average (11-26). Michael Brenly and Braden Walker have each driven in seven runs while Keith Smith has crossed the plate eight times. Overall the Rebels have five regulars hitting .320 or better. On the mound starter Craig Heyer is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA and a team-leading nine strikeouts. Out of the bullpen Marc Baca has yet to give up an earned run in four appearances. The sophomore has struck out three batters and allowed just five hits in 6.2 innings of work.
CAL STATE FULLERTON(3-0, 0-0 Big West Conference)Head Coach: George Horton(School: 455-187-1, 11th Year - Career: Same)
The Titans: Cal State Fullerton opened up its 2007 campaign at home with a three-game sweep of visiting Stanford. The Titans won by scores of 11-5, 6-5 and 12-10 at Goodwin Field. Wes Roemer earned the first win of the season, striking out eight hitters over six innings on Friday night. Offensively the Titans scored their 11 runs on 14 hits. In the second game of the series Adam Jorgenson threw 6.1 innings of scoreless relief in the win. CSF capped the sweep in a high-scoring game, posting an astounding 11 runs in the seventh inning. John Curtis and Clark Hardman each had five RBI in the series.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV took two of three from No. 19 Pepperdine as the Rebels had a successful home-opening weekend. UNLV battled with No. 19 Pepperdine and staged a late rally, but the Rebels fell short and lost 4-3 in their home opener on a cool Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels rebounded though to take the next two games. UNLV scored seven runs over the first three innings and then got a strong performance from its bullpen to beat the Waves 9-6 on Saturday afternoon. Eight different Rebels collected hits and they racked up 12 as a team in the squad's first victory at home, which also snapped a three-game slide. UNLV sophomore Michael Brenly capped off a sensational series in dramatic fashion, hitting a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Rebels to a 7-6 victory over Pepperdine on Sunday afternoon.
