March 14, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV remains at home as part of a 10-game homestand and will open up Mountain West Conference play against BYU at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Thursday night. The first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. (PT) and is the first of three games between the Rebels and the Cougars. Friday night's game is also at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday's game is slated to get underway at 2:00 p.m.
THE SERIES: UNLV leads the all-time series with BYU 63-59 (.516) in what has been a very competitive series with the Cougars recently. Last season the Rebels went 2-3 against BYU, including a 10-4 defeat in the MWC Tournament.
UNLV(9-15, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 110-98, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: Efren Navarro Jr. is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .378 average (28-74) and his 16 RBI are tied for second on the team. Blake Gailen has scored 19 runs and has a .534 slugging percentage. Michael Brenly has driven in 18 runs while Keith Smith has scored 20 times, both team highs. Overall the Rebels have six regulars hitting .300 or better. Smith had an 11-game hitting streak last Friday, the second longest of the season for the Rebels. Calvin Beamon's 17-game streak is the longest his season. On the mound starter Craig Heyer (2-2) has 26 strikeouts in a team-high 39.0 innings. Out of the bullpen Marc Baca is 2-1 with four saves and he has given up just three earned runs in 15 appearances. The sophomore has struck out 19 batters and has a 1.29 ERA.
BYU(11-6, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Vance Law(School: 239-189-2, 7th Year - Career: Same)
The Cougars: BYU is coming to Las Vegas winners of their last three games, including a 12-8 win at home against Utah Valley State on Tuesday. On offense the Cougars are led by Steve Parker, who is hitting .382 (21-55) with a home run and 12 RBI. Overall the Cougars have five regulars hitting .314 or better in the lineup. On the mound BYU has given up just one home run on the year and are being paced by Jordan Muir, who is 4-0 in four starts. He has struck out 20 batters and issued eight walks. Jesse Craig is 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA and Jake Wortham is 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA. J.D. Stambaugh has three saves in five appearances with a 1.17 ERA.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV dropped all three games to Cal Poly this past weekend to open up a 10-game homestand at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels battled with the Mustangs in the opener and tied the game in the seventh at 6-6, but allowed three runs in the eighth in the loss. Michael Brenly drove in two runs in the game. In the second game the Rebels could not overcome giving up 11 runs in the third inning in a 17-14 loss to the Mustangs. Keith Smith hit his first home run of the season and Chad Miller also homered in the defeat. The final game of the series was a pitchers' duel, and UNLV starter Matt Hutchison had his best performance in a Rebel uniform. He struck out seven and walked just one in seven innings of work, giving up two runs. But those two runs were too much for the Rebels to overcome in a 2-1 defeat.
