LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV baseball's Max Smith and Bryson Stott were named to the Mountain West's Preseason All-Conference Team, which was voted on by the league's seven head coaches and announced Wednesday. This is the second straight year that Stott has been tabbed to the MW's preseason squad, while it is the first for Smith.
Stott, a junior shortstop from Las Vegas has racked up numerous accolades from the conference the past two seasons, as he's claimed Co-Freshman of the Year honors in 2017 and was later tabbed a First Team All-MW selection in 2018.
Since December, the Desert Oasis High School graduate has been chosen to five Preseason All-America Teams as well as being named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list.
Stott returns to the Scarlet & Gray lineup after suiting up in a total of 113 games (all starts) over his freshman and sophomore campaigns. Offensively, he has hit at a .333 clip with 155 hits, 51 of which went for extra bases with 41 doubles, five triples and five home runs, and has scored 92 runs and knocked in 61 RBI. Additionally, he has posted .474 and .405 slugging and on-base percentages, respectively.
He finished 2018 ranked in the top 53 of nine different NCAA Division I statistical categories and, in turn, earned Third Team All-American status from Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game/Rawlings. He was first in the nation in doubles with 30 and came in second in doubles per game with 0.51. The Desert Oasis High School graduate was 15th in hits (92), 18th in toughest to strikeout (14.0), 19th in hits per game (1.56), 42nd in runs (61), 45th in total bases (140), 53rd in both batting average (.365) and runs per game (1.03).
Smith, a senior right fielder from Tucson, Arizona (Canyon Del Oro HS), has played in a total of 110 games in his three years at UNLV, with 85 starts – 59 of which came during his junior campaign. In 2018, he registered a .313 batting average with 72 hits, 29 of which went for extra bases (16 doubles, nine home runs and four triples) and produced .525 slugging and .389 on-base percentages.
Backed by his numbers, Smith finished the 2018 season nationally ranked triples (79th) and total bases (142nd).
With help from Stott and Smith's offensive output, UNLV concluded 2018 ranked second in doubles per game (2.39), sixth in batting average (.310), seventh in doubles (141), hits (662) and slugging percentage (.487). In all, the Rebels were ranked in the top 50 of 13 different NCAA statistics.
Both San Diego State and UNR placed three players on the MW's preseason team, while Fresno State and UNLV had two each. Air Force, New Mexico and San Jose State had one representative apiece.
REBELS PICKED FOURTH: UNLV baseball was predicted to finish the 2019 conference season in fourth place by the seven head coaches. The Rebels was slotted behind San Diego State (32 points/four first-place votes), UNR (29 points/two votes) and Fresno State (28 points/one vote), who was picked to finish first through third, respectively. Air Force (14 points), New Mexico (12) and San Jose State (eight) were tabbed to conclude the year in fifth, sixth and seventh.
2019 SEASON: UNLV baseball will play 56 games in 2019, 32 of which will take place at home at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. In all, the Rebels will play 30 contests against Mountain West competition and 26 more against foes from five different conferences, including six on the road at Stanford (Pac-12) and Houston (American Athletic) – two squads that finished 2018 ranked in the top 25 polls.
The Rebels, who went 35-24 in 2018, open the season with five straight home games, three against Seattle (Feb. 15-17) and two in a midweek set vs. UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 19-20). In fact, 21 of the Scarlet & Gray's first 30 games will be played at Wilson Stadium.
PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 season. Season tickets are just $90 for adults (13 and older) and $75 for UNLV faculty, staff and alumni, and seniors (62-plus). Single-game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, faculty and staff seniors, and $4 for groups of 15 or more. Fans that purchase tickets online up to three hours prior to first pitch can get them for an advanced single-game price of $5.
All high school, middle school and elementary students are now free under UNLV's new admission policy. To receive free admission, high school students must present valid Nevada area school I.D. at the box office on gameday to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. All other students will receive a complimentary ticket at the box office (no I.D. required). Kids not yet elementary school age will continue to receive free admission for all UNLV Olympic sports.
