May 8, 2007
LAS VEGAS -
Week Fourteen Release in PDF Format
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Leading Off: The UNLV Rebels hit the road for the final time in the 2007 regular season. The squad heads to the Beehive State for four Mountain West Conference games beginning on Thursday, May 10 through Saturday, May 12. The Rebels trail BYU for first place in the MWC by three games and will square off against the Cougars in a doubleheader Thursday evening at 6:00 pm MT. The first game of the doubleheader will be aired on CSTV(Las Vegas Cox Digital Ch. 333; Dish Network Ch. 152; DIRECTV Ch. 610). After playing the pair at BYU, UNLV will head up I-15 to Salt Lake City for single contests on Friday, May 11 (4:00 pm MT) and Saturday, May 12 (1:00 pm MT).
On Deck: After competing in their final four games of the 2007 regular season, the UNLV Rebels will learn their fate on Sunday, May 12 when the NCAA selects the 64-team field for the NCAA Tournament. ESPNews will air the selection announcements between noon and 1:00 pm PT that afternoon.
Mountain West Conference Opponents:
BYU Cougars Overall: 37-13, MWC: 13-3 ~ BYU leads the all-time series 23-11. UNLV swept the two-game series in Las Vegas earlier this season ~ BYU hosts UNLV after going 4-1 last week. After losing two to UNLV in the MWC opening weekend, BYU went on a 16-game winning streak that just ended with a loss to Colorado State. They play Utah Valley State on Tuesday.
Utah Utes Overall: 24-23-1, MWC: 4-11 ~ Utah leads the all-time series 33-27. UNLV swept the doubleheader played earlier this season in Las Vegas ~ Utah hosts UNLV after playing a doubleheader on Thursday against San Diego State. The Utes were 19-12-1 prior to playing UNLV on April 5, since the team has only won five of 16 contests.
Robinson Garners Third Weekly Honor: Christie Robinson earned her fifth overall Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week honor today (Tuesday, May 8), as announced by the league office.
Robinson tossed a complete-game shutout over the San Diego State Aztecs on Sunday, May 6. She allowed only four hits in the contest to the Aztecs. She pitched herself out of jams and did not allow the home squad to score, although they left eight runners on base throughout the game. In the seventh inning, she fielded a squeeze bunt attempt and got the runner out at home. With the bases loaded, she induced a 3-2-4 double play to end the game and uphold the 1-0 Rebel victory.
On the year, Robinson holds a team-best record of 13-5 and an ERA of 2.11.
Robinson has now been bestowed the league's pitching honor on three occasions in 2007. She previously won it on February 13 and March 13 of this season.
San Diego State Recaps: The UNLV Rebels split its two-game series at San Diego State this past weekend. The Rebels dropped the first game 5-3 after tying it up 3-3 in the fourth inning. UNLV won game two with a 1-0 decision and complete-game, four-hit shutout tossed by Christie Robinson.
San Diego State Hitting: In the two games played at San Diego State this past weekend, the Rebels were led by three players hitting above the .333 mark.
Kendall Fearn paced the team with her .400 average, which was comprised of two hits (one doubled) in five at-bats. Fearn notched two RBI, while slugging .600.
Brittany Bolinger and Brittany Meade hit .333 apiece with identical 2-for-6 tallies. Bolinger smashed one triple and scored two runs, while slugging for a .667 average. Meade, on the other, hand registered two singles.
Highly Offensive Matter: Through 13 weeks, the Rebels are hitting at a .282 clip. The offense has scattered 438 hits, with 41 of them leaving the ballpark. The team has tallied 76 doubles and 13 triples.
The Rebels have two players hitting above the .300 mark. Jaci Hull leads the Rebels with a .362 batting average from her lead-off position. Kelli Fangonilo, who hits second behind Hull, comes in at .322.
In the home run department, the team is carrying over the long ball skills that have been displayed over the past two seasons. In 2005, the Rebels smashed a school-record 50 home runs. Last season, the team came close to that mark with 44. Thus far, through 60 games the team has smashed 41 with Kendall Fearn leading the team with 10. Hull follows closely behind with nine.
The 13 triples, thus far in 2007, have already surpassed the triple tally in 2006. The `06 squad only collected three three-baggers (all tallied by Brittany Bolinger), while this season's team has nearly hit double-digits. Bolinger leads the team with four, while Hull, Rosa Ordaz and Jenn Newman are tied for second with two apiece.
