May 14, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV hosts Southern Utah on Tuesday in the final non-conference game of the Rebels' regular season, with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Blake Gailen will be making his second start of the season for the Rebels. The game is the beginning of a four-game homestand to end the regular season. UNLV will then play Air Force in a three-game series that begins Thursday.
THE SERIES: UNLV leads the all-time series with Southern Utah by a commanding margin of 82-14 (.854). It has been more than three years since the two schools last played, with the Rebels beating the Thunderbirds 10-7 in 10 innings on the road in Cedar City, Utah, on March 23, 2004
UNLV(18-34, 7-14 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 119-117, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV had three games swept three it this past weekend in New Mexico. It snapped the Rebels' four-game winning streak. Keith Smith is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .349 average (75-215) and he has also driven in 37 runs, which is a team high. Blake Gailen has scored 41 runs, driven in another 31 and has roped 12 doubles. Overall the Rebels have four regulars hitting .303 or better. Calvin Beamon had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this year and he has also stolen a team-high 17 bases. On the mound starter Craig Heyer (5-8) has team highs of 71 strikeouts and 98.0 innings. Out of the bullpen Marc Baca is 2-2 with four saves and he has struck out 24 batters and has a 3.21 ERA. Adam Moser also has four saves for UNLV out of the bullpen.
SOUTHERN UTAH(11-40, 6-10 Mid-Con Conference)Head Coach: David Eldredge(School: 53-96, 4th Year -Career: 188-175, 8th Year)
The Thunderbirds: Southern Utah comes to Las Vegas well rested, as the Thunderbirds have not play in a week since losing 12-1 to BYU in Provo last Tuesday. Earlier this season SUU beat BYU in Provo by a 3-2 score. Bucky Aona is leading the team at the plate with a .342 (55-161) average. Cameron Nelson has a team-leading seven home runs and 29 RBI on the year. On the mound, Tuesday starter Matt Wilson is 2-6 in seven starts and 18 total appearances. Kyle Melling and Jacob Noyes each have two saves as well out of the bullpen.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV dropped all three games on the road at New Mexico this past weekend, snapping the Rebels' four-game winning streak in the process. In the opener against the Lobos, the Rebels fell behind early and could not recover, losing 9-4 on Thursday afternoon. In the second game of the series UNLV had a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks in part to a three-run home by Xavier Scruggs. From there though the Lobos scored the next six runs of the game to get a 7-4 win. UNM then completed the sweep on Saturday, despite a strong comeback from the Rebels in the late innings. Trailing at one point 6-1, the Rebels scored the last four runs of the game and had the tying run on base in the ninth, but could not come all the way back. Following the sweep, UNLV will now be the sixth seed in the upcoming MWC Tournament in Las Vegas.
