March 29, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: Following a 10-game homestand, UNLV is back out on the road and will open up a three-game series at Utah on Friday afternoon. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Franklin Covey Stadium, with the first pitch on Saturday and Sunday slated for 12:00 p.m. The three-game set with the Utes if the first of back-to-back trips to the Beehive State for the Rebels, who will play BYU the following weekend in Provo.
THE SERIES: UNLV leads the all-time series with Utah 71-31 (.696) with the Rebels winning two of the three meeting last year between the two clubs. The Rebels lost the first game to the Utes 7-5 up in Salt Lake, but battled back to win the next two 12-5 and 9-2.
UNLV(12-19, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 112-103, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV has won two-straight, both against ranked opponents. Keith Smith is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .339 average (42-124) and his 21 RBI are tied for second on the team. Blake Gailen has scored 27 runs, driven in another 22 runs and has roped 10 doubles, all tops on the squad. Overall the Rebels have six regulars hitting .300 or better. Calvin Beamon had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this year and he has also stolen 11 bases this year. On the mound starter Craig Heyer (3-3) has 38 strikeouts in a team-high 56.1 innings of work. 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.
UTAH(9-15, 2-1 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Bill Kinneberg(School: 76-101, 3rd Year - Career: 331-284: 11th Year)
The Utes: Utah will be opening a four-game homestand this weekend when UNLV comes to Salt Lake City and Franlin Covey Stadium. It was supposed to be a five-game stretch of games for the Utes, but Tuesday's game was snowed out. The Utes are led offensively by Jay Brossman, who is hitting .347 (35-101) with team highs of eight home runs and 27 RBI. Corey Shimada has hit two home runs and is second on the team with 18 RBI. On the mound Eric King is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA in seven starts. His 29 strikeouts are tops on the staff. Brett Bruneel is the closer for the Utes and he has two saves in 12 appearances.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV scored eight runs over the final two innings to come from behind and beat No. 24 UC Irvine 11-6 on a windy Tuesday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, where the ball was flying out of right field. Senior outfielder Ryan Kowalski hit a three-run home run in the seventh, his first of the season, that gave UNLV its first lead and then Xavier Scruggs hit a three-run shot of his own in the eighth. Both round trippers capped four-run innings for the Rebels, which moved to 12-19 on the year with Michael Goodman earning his first win of the season in relief. UCI had its seven-game winning streak and dropped to 19-6-1 with Dylan Axelrod (1-2) charged with the loss out of the bullpen. It was the 13th game against a ranked team that the Rebels have played at Earl E. Wilson Stadium and UNLV is now 6-7 in those contests.
