LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels continue their seven-game homestand to kick off the 2020 season this weekend with a three-game, nonconference series against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
 
However, with the threat of inclement weather rolling into the Las Vegas Valley Saturday, the weekend's schedule has been altered. UNLV and Alabama will now play twice Friday and once Sunday, with no game Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
 
Friday's doubleheader will begin at 2:05 pm, with the second half of the twin bill beginning around 6:05 pm. Sunday's finale will remain at the previously scheduled time of 10:05 am.
 
FOLLOW ALONG: Fans can follow this weekend's three-game, nonconference series between UNLV and Alabama through live stats, live video and social media. Links to stats and live video can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the team's baseball page as well as on the team's official social media channels.
 
Inning-by-inning updates will be provided through @UNLVbaseball, the team's official Twitter account.
 
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The three-game, nonconference series between UNLV and Alabama rekindles a series that dates back to 1986, but has been dormant for nearly 32 years. The two teams have played six games, all in Las Vegas, with the Rebels leading the head-to-head series 4-2.
 
Alabama won two of three in 1986; however, UNLV claimed victory in all three contests in 1988 (March 15-17).
 
ON DECK: UNLV will hit the road for the first time for nonconference midweek tilt against the UC Riverside Highlanders in Riverside, California. The Tuesday affair is scheduled to start at 3:05 pm. The Rebels and Highlanders will meet, once more, this season in Las Vegas at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on May 5.
 
BACK AT EARL E.: UNLV returns to Las Vegas and Earl E. Wilson Stadium next weekend for a three-game, nonconference series against the Big East's Creighton Bluejays. The teams will open up play Feb. 28 at 6:05 pm. Games two and three are set for Feb. 29 at 2:05 pm and March 1 at 1:05 pm.
 
LOOKING BACK: UNLV went 1-3 last weekend in a season-opening, nonconference series against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Three of the four games were decided late in the contests, with those go-ahead runs coming in either the seventh or eighth innings.
 
Games one and two were both high-scoring affairs that saw CMU pull away in the seventh innings. In the season opener, the Chippewas scored four times in the seventh to snap a 7-all tie en route to a 12-9 win. In the second game, which was game one of a doubleheader, the Chippewas erupted for five runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth to overcome a 6-4 deficit, and claim a 12-8 decision. CMU shutout UNLV, 8-0, to win the third tilt.
 
The series finale was decided in the bottom of the eighth when the Rebels pushed two runs across with the help of four singles. After Jack-Thomas Wold and Alex Sardina reached base safely off a leadoff single and a two-out base hit, respectively, Austin Kryszczuk delivered the would-be, game-winning RBI single to put UNLV ahead 9-8. Grant Robbins tacked on an insurance tally with the third straight single - the fourth of the frame. Bradley Spooner picked up the win in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two against no hits or walks.
 
SCOUTING THE REBELS: UNLV is paced offensively by Eric Bigani, who leads the team in batting average (.389), hits (seven), doubles (three), total bases (12) and slugging percentage (.667). Bigani is also tied for the team lead in runs (three) and triples (one).
 
Both Alex Sardina and Jack-Thomas Wold are also hitting better than .300, with the former posting a .375 average (3-for-8) to the latter's .308 average (4-for-13). Besides the hitting, the pair also accounted for eight of the team's 27 runs against Central Michigan.
 
Austin Pfeifer and Grant Robbins knocked in 10 of the team's 23 RBI last weekend. The pair both had three hits with two of those going for extra bases; each had a double while Pfeifer had a home run to a triple by Robbins. Pfeifer played a roll in eight of the team's scores with six RBI and two runs to Robbins' four RBI and three runs.
 
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON TIDE: Alabama hits the road for the first time this season after playing four straight at home, beginning with a three against Northeastern and one against Alabama State. The Crimson Tide scored at least six runs in all four contests and won each by a minimum of three runs. Moreover, they outscored the opposition 34-6.
 
Owen Diodati, who was named the SEC's Co-Freshman of the Week after his play against Northeastern, leads the Crimson Tide with a .615 batting average backed by eight hits. Half of Diodati's hits went for extra bases with three homers, one double and one triple, which helped produce a 1.538 slugging percentage and .706 on-base percentage. He has also knocked in nine RBI and scored seven runs.
 
In all, the team has seven players hitting .300 or better with a minimum of three hits.
 
On the mound, the pitchers own a 1.25 ERA in 36.0 innings pitched. They have allowed only six runs (five earned) off of 19 hits with 12 walks against 40 strikeouts. Both Connor Shamblin and Connor Prielipp own 0.00 ERAs in a minimum of 4.0 innings of work.
 
The Crimson Tide went 30-26 last year and finished seventh in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference with a 7-23 league mark.
 
This year's squad returns 20 letterwinners, including six positional starters and 11 pitchers. The Crimson Tide welcomes 16 newcomers to the team.