March 8, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV returns home after a five-game road trip to host Cal Poly in a three-game series that gets underway at 6:30 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Saturday's game is slated to start at 2:00 p.m. and the capper of the series is set for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. It is the start of 10-straight at home for the Rebels, including the Mountain West Conference opener next weekend against BYU.
THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between UNLV and Cal Poly, with the Rebels slated to return the trip in 2008.
UNLV(9-12, 0-0 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 110-95, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV enters this week's series at 9-12 after the Rebels split a two-game series on the road with Texas Tech. Efren Navarro Jr. is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .375 average (24-64) and his 13 RBI are third on the team. Blake Gailen has scored 17 runs and has a .557 slugging percentage. Michael Brenly has driven in 16 runs whle Calvin Beamon has scored 18 times, both team highs. Overall the Rebels have six regulars hitting .300 or better. Keith Smith currently has an 11-game hitting streak entering Friday's game, the second longest of the season for the Rebels. 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 13 appearances. The sophomore has struck out 18 batters and has a 1.33 ERA.
CAL POLY(10-10, 0-0 Big West Conference)Head Coach: Larry Lee(School: 276-211-3, 9th Year - Career: 609-431-3, 19th year)
The Mustangs: Cal Poly is coming off a sweep at the hands of Santa Clara after the Mustangs had won four-straight series. Cal Poly took two-of-three from MWC member San Diego State earlier this season. Brent Morel is the Mustangs' top hitter with a .379 average to go with eight doubles and two triples. Grant Desme has a .356 clip, six home runs and 22 RBI. On the mound Marc Nobriga has been the most consistent starter, sporting a 2-2 record, a 4.33 ERA and 21 strikeouts. The closer is senior Rocky Roquet, who has four saves and a total of 12 appearances.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV split a mid-week two-game series with Texas Tech, dropping the first 7-6 on Tuesday before rebounding for a 5-4 win on Wednesday afternoon. In the opener, The Red Raiders put at least one run on the board in each inning between the first and the ninth in handing the Rebels lost for the sixth time in the last seven games. Chris Bonnell hit his second home run of the season, a two-run blast in the ninth. The Rebels jumped out to an early lead and then held on late to beat Texas Tech 5-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Dan Law Stadium, snapping a four-game losing skid. Ryan Tabor (2-0) started and tossed 5.1 scoreless innings to collect the win and Marc Baca worked the final 1.2 innings to earn the save. Ryan Kowalski went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and Calvin Beamon drove in a pair to pace the Rebels.
