LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball program remains at home this weekend with a three-game, two-day Mountain West series against the New Mexico Lobos at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels and Lobos get things started with a doubleheader Saturday and then play a single contest Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 am both days.
Due to the pandemic, the beginning of the season will be played without fans in attendance. UNLV Athletics will stay abreast of developments and health recommendations to determine if fans are able to attend home games as the season progresses.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow this weekend's three-game, Mountain West series between UNLV and UNM through live stats and live video, and links to both can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the team's baseball page. All three games will be streamed live through the UNLV Athletics' YouTube page with Matt Neverett handling play-by-play duties. Additionally, fans can follow the team's Twitter account – @UNLVbaseball – for links to stats and video as well as inning-by-inning updates.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
With this week's three-game, Mountain West set, UNLV and UNM rekindle a series that dates back to 1978. The two teams have played a total of 176 times, with the Rebels leading the head-to-head series by 10 games – 93-83.
The Rebels and Wolf Pack did not play each other during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, but played a total of six times in 2019, with each winning three games. New Mexico won two of three in Las Vegas (March 29-31); however, UNLV returned the favor and won two of three in Albuquerque (May 11-12).
ON DECK
UNLV hits the road for the first time this season with a three-game, two-day Mountain West series against the San Diego State Aztecs at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego. The Rebels and Lobos will square off in a doubleheader on March 13 and then play a single game on March 14. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm both days.
LAST TIME OUT
After waiting an extra week to open the 2021 season due to the New Mexico State series cancellation, UNLV finally kicked off this year's campaign at home against the UNR Wolf Pack. The Rebels claimed the first two games of the Mountain West series last Saturday by scoring a total of 11 runs and recording 23 hits. UNLV won game one of the doubleheader, 3-2, in walk-off fashion with an RBI single by
Eric Bigani in the bottom of the ninth, and then took the second contest, 8-3, in less dramatic means. Unfortunately, the Rebel bats were silenced in Sunday's finale, a 6-1 loss.
HOT HITTING
UNLV had four of its own hitting .308 or better with a minimum of four hits at the conclusion of last weekend's Mountain West series against the UNR Wolf Pack.
Jack-Thomas Wold paced the Rebel lineup with a .364 average with four hits – two of which were doubles, two RBI and one run.
Diego Alarcon led the squad in hits (five) and runs (three), while hitting .357 with two extra-base hits (one double and one triple), and one RBI.
Brendan Brooks and
Eric Bigani had nearly identical stat lines with four hits, one double, two RBI and two runs apiece; however, the former hit .333 (4-for-12) to the latter's .308 (4-for-13).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>New Mexico: The Lobos enter the third week of the 2021 season sporting a 4-3 overall record and a 3-0 mark in Mountain West play … The Lobos began the season in Surprise, Arizona, at the Sanderson Ford Collegiate Baseball Classic, going 1-3 with a win over Kansas State and a pair of losses to Oregon State and one more to Gonzaga … The Lobos rebounded last weekend at home in Albuquerque with a sweep of the Air Force Falcons … The Lobos and the UNLV Rebels were both picked to tie for third place in the 2021 MW Preseason Coaches Poll … The Lobos' Justin Armbruester (RHP) and Kyle Landers (1B) were selected to the 2021 MW Preseason All-MW Team … The Lobos went 14-4 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, winning its final six and 10 of 12 games … Both Armbruerster and Landers were tabbed to the 2020 MW All-Conference Team.
