May 22, 2007
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IN THE BATTER'S BOX: UNLV will open the 2007 Mountain West Conference Tournament, playing the first game of the championship against Utah on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. (PT). The sixth-seeded Rebels will be playing the third-seeded Utes in familiar territory, as the tournament is once again at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. This is the second-straight year that the tournament has been held at UNLV and the fourth overall in MWC history.
Complete MWC First Round
Game 1 - 11 am, #3 Utah vs. #6 UNLVGame 2 - 3 pm, #4 SDSU vs. #5 New MexicoGame 3 - 7 pm, Loser GM 1 vs. Loser GM 2
No. 6 UNLV(22-34, 10-14 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Buddy Gouldsmith(School: 123-117, 4th Year - Career: Same)
The Rebels: UNLV brings a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's game following a three-game sweep of Air Force at home to close out the regular season. Keith Smith is leading the Rebels at the plate with a .348 average (81-233) and he has driven in 46 runs, which is a team high as well. Blake Gailen has scored 47 runs, driven in another 33 and has roped 13 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 a team-high 17 bases. On the mound Wednesday starter Craig Heyer (6-8) has team highs of 76 strikeouts and 104.0 innings. In two starts against the Utes this season he is 1-1 with a 3.85 ERA. Marc Baca leads the bullpen with five saves.
No. 3 Utah(24-29, 12-12 Mountain West Conference)Head Coach: Bill Kinneberg(School: 101-115, 4th Year -Career: 344-296, 12th Year)
The Utes: Utah enters the MWC Tournament on a three-game slide, dropping all three games to BYU to close out the regular season. The Utes are led at the plate by Cory Shimada, who has a .358 (73-204) average to go with 10 triples, six home runs and 45 RBI. Wednesday's starter Stephen Fife is 6-2 with a 4.68 ERA and 47 strikeouts. Fife is 2-0 against the Rebels this season, with one win coming as a starter and the other in relief.
THE SERIES: UNLV leads the all-time series with Utah by a mark of 74-34 (.685) and the two teams have split six meetings this season. The Rebels took two-of-three in a series in Salt Lake while the Utes returned the favor by winning two-of-three in Las Vegas later in the year. UNLV has never lost to Utah in the MWC Tournament, with the Rebels holding a 3-0 advantage. UNLV beat Utah 5-3 in the 2005 tournament and the Rebels earned two victories in the 2002 tournament by scores of 13-9 and 13-7.
REBELS' LAST TIME OUT: UNLV closed its regular season by sweeping three-games from Air Force at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, giving the Rebels a four-game winning streak. UNLV won the first two games by scores of 4-3 and 13-4 heading into Saturday's Senior Day festivities. The day was capped by senior Keith Smith, who hit a walk-off three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth for a 13-12 victory.
