LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels return to Las Vegas and Earl E. Wilson Stadium this week to begin a six-game homestand with nonconference contests against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners, Bradley Braves and Washington State Cougars. UNLV and CSUB kick off the nine-day stretch with a Tuesday evening affair slated to begin at 6:05 pm. Bradley and Washington State will come to town for three- and two-game series, beginning Friday (March 8) and running through March 13.
Despite hosting Utah last Tuesday, the Scarlet & Gray has played six of its last seven contests on the road in California. This recently completed span only trails a seven-game road trip (April 30-May 12) the Rebels will traverse later in the season, as the squad travels to Riverside, California, Houston and Albuquerque, N.M.
Historically speaking, the Rebels own a 3-1 edge in the all-time head-to-head series with CSUB that dates back to 2012. UNLV had won the first three meetings in the series; however, the Western Athletic Conference squad claimed the most recent decision - a 4-0 win on March 6, 2018.
FOLLOW ALONG: Fans can follow the nonconference game between UNLV and CSU Bakersfield through live stats and Twitter (@UNLVbaseball). Additionally, the contest will be streamed live through YouTube. Links to both stats and the video stream can be found at UNLVRebels.com.
ON DECK: The UNLV Rebels continue their homestand at Earl E. Wilson Stadium with a three-game, nonconference series against the Missouri Valley's Bradley Braves. UNLV and BU begin the series Friday evening at 6:05 pm, and continue it Saturday and Sunday at 2:05 pm and 1:05 pm, respectively.
HARE-RAISING PERFORMANCE LEADS TO WEEKLY AWARD: UNLV baseball's
Ryan Hare was named the Mountain West's Pitcher of the Week for his efforts in the Rebels' 7-3 victory at Fresno State Sunday. This is the first weekly honor for the right-handed pitcher from Lakewood, California.
Hare threw 4.1 scoreless innings and struck out a career-high seven batters for his second win of the season. The redshirt junior entered the resumed contest, which had been halted Saturday evening due to rain, in the bottom of the first with the bases loaded and two outs. He struck out the first four batters he faced and recorded at least one strikeout in each inning. He also induced four groundouts and two fly outs in his relief appearances. Moreover, he only allowed one hit in the game and that batter was the only runner he allowed on base.
STOTT STARTS STRONG, ONCE AGAIN: UNLV's
Bryson Stott has made his presence felt at the plate and on the bases through 12 games of action, thus far, this season. From the leadoff spot in the batting order, Stott is first on the team in home runs (five), total bases (41), slugging percentage (.932), walks (16) and on-base percentage (.550). Additionally, he sits tied for first in doubles (five) and triples (two), and ranks second in average (.386), at-bats (44), hits (17) and RBI (11).
To date, the Las Vegas native (Desert Oasis HS) is ranked in the top 100 of 11 NCAA statistical categories. He enters the week ranked as high as fourth in both walks and total bases. He is 10th in home runs and triples, 13th in walks per game (1.33), 14th in slugging percentage, 41st in on-base percentage, 53rd in doubles and 72nd in hits.
Stott is 17-for-44 at the plate with 71 percent of his hits - 12 of 17 - going for extra bases. He has registered a hit in 10 contests, with multiple hits in six of those. He scattered three against Seattle (Feb. 16) and had two in five others.
His five home runs in 12 games this season have already equaled his output in 113 contests over the past two years as a Rebel. He had one during his freshman campaign and four more as a sophomore.
He began the year with a five-game hitting streak with at least one hit in all five affairs as well as three in game two versus Seattle (Feb. 16) and two more in the third tilt (Feb. 17). After going hitless at Stanford (Game 1/Feb. 23), he has three straight two-hit outings, with five of his six hits going for extra bases - three home runs, one triple and one double.
Defensively, he is a perfect 1.000 in the field converting all 54 chances with 15 putouts and 39 assists.
JACKSON CLOSER: Senior
Jackson Cofer (Utah Valley/Coronado HS) has made a total of seven relief appearances on the mound for with six of those resulting in victories for UNLV. In his Rebel debut, he picked up a win over Seattle (Feb. 16). He has followed that with five saves: Feb. 17 vs. Seattle; Feb. 20 vs. UC Santa Barbara; Feb. 23 at No. 5 Stanford; and March 2 and 4 at Fresno State.
Currently, he ranks second in the NCAA in saves and seventh overall in appearances.
Overall, he has thrown at least one inning in six of relief stints, and recorded at least five outs in four of his saves. Moreover, he threw 2.0 innings closing out a 2-1 win over then-No. 5 Stanford (Feb. 23).
E-DAR(E)-IAN' THEM TO PITCH TO HIM: Freshman
Edarian Williams is already making a name for himself, thus far, in 2019. Williams, a graduate of Rancho High School, leads the Rebels in average (.400), runs (13), hits (18) and RBI (12), while he sits tied for the top spot in doubles (five).
For his efforts, Williams ranks as highly as 42nd in the NCAAs in hits. He is also 53rd in doubles and 57th in runs.
He played in all 12 contests and started 11 with six as the designated hitter and five more at second base.
After going hitless in the season opener, he has a hit in 11 straight going 18-for-42 at the plate for a .429 batting average. Six of his hits (33 percent) have gone for extra bases. In this stretch, he also produced all 13 runs and 12 RBI.
Dating back to the second game of the year - Seattle on Feb. 16, he had recorded at least one hit and one run in every game; however, the run streak was snapped in the series finale at Fresno State (March 3), while his hit streak remained.
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.
