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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -- UNLV baseball (13-18, 2-13 Mountain West) is back on the road this weekend as the Rebels head to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State (22-7). UNLV is coming off of a 7-6 victory over No. 5 Arizona State at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The win broke a seven-game losing streak for the Rebels and was the first time since 2002 that UNLV was able to capture a victory over Arizona State. The win was also the first time since 2003 that the Rebels were able to get a win over a top-five team. In `03 the team took the series finale against No. 3 Cal State Fullerton. Junior Ben Wright (0-1, 2.00 ERA) is scheduled to make his first career start for UNLV on Friday against the Buckeyes. Sophomore DJ Myers (2-2, 4.37 ERA) is projected to start on Saturday, while freshman Blaze Bohall (3-2, 3.57 ERA) is expected to get the nod on Sunday. All three games against OSU will be streamed online, for a fee, thanks to the Big Ten Network Plus.

SCOUTING THE REBELS
UNLV baseball (13-18, 2-13 Mountain West) ended a seven-game losing streak with a 7-6 win over No. 5 Arizona State on Wednesday. The game was scheduled for Tuesday night, but after a lighting malfunction, the game was suspended in the third inning and moved to Wednesday morning. It was the first time the Rebels beat Arizona State since 2002 and was the first time since 2003 that they beat a top-five ranked team. In 2003, UNLV claimed an 8-6 victory over No. 3 Cal State Fullerton. UNLV opened the season with a series victory over No. 23 Nebraska, but dropped its series opener with the Huskers in front of a record 3,173 fans 2-0. The Rebels bounced back to defeat Nebraska 5-3 on Saturday and then recorded a shut out with a 3-0 win on Sunday. It was the first series win over a ranked team since 2014 when the Rebels swept No. 24 New Mexico. It was also the first time since the Rebels joined the Mountain West that they shut out a ranked team. This weekend UNLV will play its third and final Big 10 opponent of the season as the Rebels travel to Ohio State (22-7). Junio Ben Wright (0-1, 2.00 ERA) is projected to make his first start of the year against the Buckeyes in the series opener on Friday. Sophomore D.J. Myers (2-2, 4.37 ERA) is slated to pitch on Saturday, while freshman Blaze Bohall (3-2, 3.57 ERA) is probable for Sunday. The Rebels' bull pen has been anchored by two of the best closers in school history: juniors Zack Hartman and Brayden Torres. Senior Joey Lauria (2-2, 4.13 ERA) owns the best strikeout-to-walk ratio on the team as he has recorded 30 punch outs against only six walks in 28.1 innings of work. From the plate, the Rebels have been led by senior Dylan Ellis, who is hitting .403. Ellis, who has been a reserve for most of his career, has worked his way into the lineup after swinging a hot bat and has started 19 of the team's 31 games. He has recorded 10 games with multiple hits, which is tied with Joey Armstrong, who is hitting .300 on the year, for the most on the team. Erik VanMeetren leads the team with four home runs and is hitting .301 on the year with 17 RBI. Freshman Payton Squier is hitting .315 and leads the team with 40 hits. He has also recorded seven steals, which is tied for a team-high with classmate Austin Anderson, who is hitting .294. Senior Morgan Stotts is hitting .270 and leads the team with 22 RBI.

SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State (22-7) comes into its weekend series with UNLV having won its last five games and nine of its last 10. The Buckeyes two midweek games this week against Dayton and Kent State were cancelled due to weather. OSU most recently swept Penn State and won a midweek game over Ohio. The Buckeyes own an RPI that ranks 16th in the country, according to Warren Nolan. Pat Porter is hitting .321 this season to lead the team offensively. He also leads the team with 28 RBI. Craig Nennig (.316) and Troy Montgomery (.302) are also hitting over .300 and Montgomery leads the team with 17 stolen bases. Ronnie Dawson leads the team with six home runs and is hitting .257 on the year but in the last 10 games he is hitting .343 with 10 runs scored, two triples, four home runs and nine RBI. From the mound OSU is slated to start Tanner Tully (3-1, 2.33 ERA) on Friday, Travis Lankins (1-2, 4.02 ERA) on Saturday and Ryan Riga (5-1, 1.40 ERA) on Sunday. Lankins leads the team with 41 strikeouts, but has also walked a team-high 19 batters.

UNLV - OHIO STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Rebels and Buckeyes have met a total of two times. The series is even as each team won one game in 1998. UNLV won the first game of the series 9-8 but fell in the second game 18-1. This weekend's series will mark the first time that UNLV has played in the Buckeye State.

ON DECK
After its series with Ohio State, UNLV will return to Las Vegas only to bus to Loyola Marymount for a Tuesday night game. The Rebels lead the overall series with the Lions 30-18. The last time that UNLV and LMU met was in 2013 in Las Vegas. After the midweek game, the Rebels will return home to resume Mountain West play against New Mexico.