March 9, 2009

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior Drew Beuerlein was named the Mountain West Conference's Player of the Week, the league announced today, and it is the first weekly honor of the Rebel catcher's career.

Beuerline played a huge role in UNLV sweeping four games from Butler this past weekend, as the native of Scottsdale, Ariz., hit .643 (9-for-14) with three triples, nine RBI and eight runs scored. In the 9-2 series-opening win, Beuerlein went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. In a 19-10 win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, he went 3-for-5 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored. In the Rebels' 24-5 win in the second game of the doubleheader, Beuerlein went 2-for-3 with a triple, four RBI and three runs scored. In the final game of the series, Beuerlein went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI as UNLV completed the sweep with a 14-2 win.

Pitcher of the Week honors went to Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State, who struck out 18 against the 11th-ranked University of San Diego last Thursday, which is the second-most strikeouts in a game in league history.

The Rebels will get their first look this season at Strasburg, as they open up MWC play this weekend, traveling to play San Diego State in a three-game series that gets underway on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. (PT).