Feb. 28, 2008

LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball wraps up its season-opening eight-game homestand this weekend, as the Rebels welcome the University of Maine to Earl E. Wilson for a three-game series.

The non-conference clash between the Rebels and the Black Bears begins Friday night with the first of three games between the two clubs set to start at 6:30 p.m. (PT). The two clubs will play again on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. before closing out their series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

UNLV enters the series with an overall record of 2-3 after the Rebels dropped both games of a short series with Washington State earlier this week at Wilson Stadium. In the opener on Tuesday the Rebels jumped out to an early 8-0 lead but could not make it last, losing 12-8 to the Cougars as they scored eight runs in the sixth and another pair in the seventh to stun the Rebels. WSU then jumped out to an 8-0 lead in Wednesday's game on its way to a 9-5 win.

Junior transfer J.J. Sferra has provided a spark at the top of the lineup, hitting .409 (9-22) with a double, triple and five runs scored. Junior first baseman Xavier Scruggs is also hitting .409 (9-22) after the first five games of the season, with two doubles, two triples and five RBI.

The Black Bears come to Las Vegas with a 4-0 record after taking four games from Delaware State this past weekend in Dover, Del., as part of a seven-game road trip for Maine to open the season. Maine is being led at the plate by Curt Smith, who is hitting .786 (11-14) with four home runs and 11 RBI and as a team Maine is hitting .376.

Friday and Sunday's games will be streamed live on the internet at while fans can follow all three games live via Gametracker by going to www.unlvrebels.com.