March 10, 2014
UNLV vs. West Virginia 
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball (10-4, 5-1 Mountain West) returns to Las Vegas to host a midweek game against West Virginia (8-4). The Rebels are coming off of a series victory at New Mexico over the weekend. UNLV handed the Lobos their first series loss since moving back to Lobo Field permanently last season. The Rebels won 8-2 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday but dropped the series finale in 12 innings 5-4. The Mountaineers, who are currently on a west coast tour, are on a six-game winning streak, as they beat Sacramento State and UC Riverside (twice) over the weekend. Fans who cannot make it to Wilson Stadium can watch the contest between West Virginia and UNLV at 6:05 p.m. online thanks to the Mountain West Network.
SCOUTING THE REBELS
UNLV baseball (10-4, 5-1 Mountain West) returns to Las Vegas to host West Virginia for a midweek contest on Tuesday. Over the weekend the Rebels took two-of-three from New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Rebels' starting pitching anchored the attack throughout the weekend. Friday starter Erick Fedde (2-1) now has 30 strikeouts, five of which came in a no decision against the Lobos. He allowed two runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work. Joey Lauria (2-1) entered the game in the seventh inning to earn the win while Brayden Torres (2) recorded the save. Junior John Richy (3-0) picked up his third win of the year on Saturday as he allowed two runs on seven hits and recorded four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Kenny Oakley earned the save after allowing no runs on one hit and recorded three strikeouts. Sophomore Bryan Bonnell did not factor into the decision in the Rebels' 5-4 loss in 12 innings on Sunday. Bonnell allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits and recorded one strikeout in 7.2 innings of work. Senior Pat Armstrong led the Rebel attack from the plate against New Mexico. He recorded multiple hits in all three games against the Lobos and finished 6-for-14 (.429) and scored a team-high four runs and recorded two RBI. His younger brother, Joey Armstrong, leads the Rebels this season with a .371 batting average. Edgar Montes is hitting .340 and is tied for a team best 11 RBI. Erik VanMeetren is also hitting over .300 at a .313 average and has drawn a team-high eight walks.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
The West Virginia Mountaineers (8-4) are currently on a west coast tour as they played in Riverside, Calif. over the weekend. After facing UNLV, the Mountaineers will head back to California to face Cal State Northridge. West Virginia brings a six-game winning streak to Las Vegas, including a 8-1 win over Sacramento State and wins of 2-1 and 7-4 over UC Riverside. Leading the charge for West Virginia is Billy Fleming who is hitting .400 this year, but of his 18 hits only one has been for extra bases. Ryan McBroom (.348), Justin Fox (.345), Bobby Boyd (.327), Taylor Munden (.321), Shaun Wood (.314) and Jacob Rice (.306) are all hitting over .300 for the Mountaineers. McBroom has a team-high 17 RBI and has hit four home runs this season. He has also drawn a team-high six walks. Boyd and Rice are tied for a team-high seven stolen bases, but Boyd has yet to be thrown out on the base paths this season. As a team, West Virginia is hitting .296 and they have eight home runs to their team's credit. Getting the start on the mound will be Michael Bennett. It will be his first start of the year, but he has made three relief appearances. He has allowed two hits runs on seven hits and has recorded four strikeouts in 6.1 innings and has yet to allow a walk.
UNLV-WEST VIRGINIA HISTORY
UNLV returns to Earl E. Wilson Stadium to host a midweek game against West Virginia. It will mark the second meeting between the two schools and the first since 2000, which West Virginia won 15-6 in Las Vegas.
ON DECK
The Rebels will renew a rivalry against Mountain West newcomer San Jose State this upcoming weekend. UNLV and SJSU were conference foes from 1985 through 1999 in the Big West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference. Overall, the Rebels have a 27-18 record against the Spartans, but their most recent meeting came in 1999. The last time UNLV traveled to San Jose was in 1998 and the Spartans took two of three from the Rebels.
MARKETING PROMOTIONS
"Two Dollar Tuesday" returns to Earl E. Wilson Stadium for the game between UNLV and West Virginia. Fans who buy tickets online in advance can purchase them for only $2.00.
