April 26, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV gets back into Mountain West Conference play this weekend, hosting Utah in a three-game series that gets underway Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (PT). Saturday's game starts at 2:00 p.m. with Sunday's contest slated to start at 1:00 p.m. The Rebels will be attempting to end a 10-game slide, which started nearly a month ago in Salt Lake against the Utes.
THE SERIES: UNLV lead the all-time series with Utah by a mark of 73-32 (.667) and the Rebels won two of the first three meetings with the Utes earlier this season. UNLV won by margins of 7-5 (11) and 5-4 before Utah rebounded to win the final game of the series 10-9.
UNLV(14-29, 3-9 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 115-112, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV had three games swept from them at No. 9 Oregon State last weekend, giving the Rebels a 10-game losing skid that is the team's longest such streak this year. Efren Navarro Jr. is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .351 average (47-134) and has also driven in 26 RBI. Blake Gailen has scored 38 runs, driven in another 28 runs and has roped 12 doubles. Overall the Rebels have five regulars hitting .302 or better. Calvin Beamon had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this year and he has also stolen 14 bases this year. On the mound starter Craig Heyer (4-6) has 56 strikeouts in a team-high 80.0 innings of work. Out of the bullpen Marc Baca is 2-2 with four saves and the sophomore has struck out 21 batters and has a 1.98 ERA in 27.1 innings of work.
Utah(19-21, 7-5 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Bill Kinneberg(School: 86-107, 4th Year -Career: 341-290, 12th Year)
The Utes: Utah will be traveling outside the Beehive State for the first time in a month as the Utes head to Las Vegas for their three-game series with the Rebels. The Utes have won three of their last four after earning a series win over New Mexico last weekend and then beating Southern Utah 8-3 on Tuesday night. Corey Shimada leads the Utes offensively, hitting .351 (54-154) while hitting a pair of home runs and driving in 35. Jay Brossman is Utah's top power threat as he has hit eight home runs, 12 doubles and four triples on the year. On the mound Eric King is 5-1 with a 3.33 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 10 starts this season.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV lost all three of its game to No. 9 Oregon State in the last non-conference road games of the year for the Rebels. In the opener UNLV battled the defending College World Series champions, but fell short in a 3-1 loss to OSU. After rain postponed Saturday's game, the two teams played a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. A pair of big innings derailed the Rebels' hopes of avoiding the sweep. In the first game of the twinbill it was a grand slam off the bat of OSU catcher Mitch Canham that broke open a one-run game that the Beavers went on to win 10-2. In the final game of the series later that afternoon Canham's bat again did most of the damage. He hit another grand slam that again broke open a one-run game and OSU earned a 7-0 win and the series sweep.
