LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team will open the home season this upcoming weekend, hosting no. 25-ranked Cincinnati at Earl E. Wilson Stadium for a set of four games.
SCHEDULE (all times in PST)
Friday, Feb. 21 at 6:05 pm
Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:05 pm
Sunday, Feb 23 at 1:05 pm
Monday, Feb 24 at 6:05 pm
MATCHUP HISTORY
All-time vs. Cincinnati: 0-0
2025 vs. Ranked Opponents: 2-1
2024 vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-0
Last Meeting vs. Big 12: Fell to Arizona State 14-13 in Tempe, Ariz. to close the 2024 season.
BROADCAST INFO: All four games at Earl E. Wilson Stadium will be streamed live on UNLV Athletic's official YouTube channel. Links to broadcasts as well as live stats are available on
unlvrebels.com/sports/baseball/schedule.
THIS SEASON: The Rebels produced an identical lineup for three of their four games during opening weekend,
Cole Koniarsky producing the highest batting average at .429 in 14 ABs. UNLV featured two other student-athletes in the lineup that hit over .300 in the first four games,
JP Hefft (.375) and
Dean Toigo (.333) being those noted for the statistic.
The Hustlin' Rebels totaled six multi-base hits in their opening weekend, two coming from grand slams in Hefft and Toigo. Three student-athletes each hit a double (Koniarsky, Michael Cruz and
Chase Gallegos),
Cooper Sheff slapping the team's lone triple.
UNLV emerged victorious against two of their three ranked opponents during the Sanderson Ford Collegiate Baseball Classic last weekend, sweeping the no. 25-ranked Indiana Hoosiers on scores of 4-2 and 13-12 (10 inn.).
Carson Lane picked up a great start to kick off his sophomore campaign in the season opener, picking up seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Lane also kept the Hoosiers scoreless throughout his first three innings of work.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Bearcats opened the 2025 season on a strong note on the road, taking two of three games against no.11-ranked Duke with an average of over 10 runs per contest. Cincinnati's no. 25-ranking marks the program's first ever appearance in D1Baseball.com's rankings. Their 19-5 win in the series finale marked the largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent since the 2000 season.
Cincinnati had several strong batters to open the season, Kerrington Cross and Donovan Ford each hitting .400 in the three games. Cross registered two home runs and six RBIs, Ford totaling four RBIs and an on-base percentage of .571.
UC's pitching staff also saw plenty of success, recording 32 strikeouts in 29.1 innings of play over the course of the weekend. Adam Buczkowski registered 3.1 innings of work in his debut in the extra-inning thriller, the freshman from Carmel, Ind. tossing 3.1 innings of work and only allowing a single walk. Nathan Taylor also held a strong performance in his start during that same contest, totaling four innings of action and striking out six batters for a team high.
NEW FOR 2025: The Rebels feature 23 newcomers wearing the Scarlet & Gray heading into the new season, three of those student-athletes being marked as true freshman on the roster and 20 transferring to Las Vegas.
Of those 20 transfers, the Scarlet & Gray have two pairs of student-athletes to the roster arriving from the same institution, including Nicky Garritano and Michael Cruz from CSN.The duo helped lead the Coyotes to become on of the premiere JUCO programs, Garritano earning the 2024 NJCAA DI Baseball Defensive Player of the Year honor. Also being a two-time NJCAA DI Baseball ABCA & Rawlings Gold Glove recipient, both him and Cruz hold multiple All-Region selections in Region 18.
A few of UNLV's fresh faces earned some time on the diamond during the Rebels' scrimmage last weekend, the team having plenty of options to utilize throughout the season.Senior outfielder Dean Toigo led Hope International to their first-ever win in the Avista NAIA World Series as Toigo drove in two runs during the contest. Dwight Allen II was part of the 2022 Georgia squad that advanced to the NCAA Regional after appearing in 42 games that season and Colton Sundloff owns postseason experience from his time at Oklahoma pitching in the NCAA Super Regional.
Of the Rebel freshman trio, two arrive from California and Carl LaGrone coming from McQueen High School in Las Vegas.LaGrone ranked as the top LHP in Nevada, according to PerfectGame.com, Demetriz Lewis earning an All-Tournament nod after his performance in the 17U National Championship.Coming from Clovis North High School in Fresno (Calif.), Jayden Hertel picked up First Team All-TRAC recognition as a senior.
UNLV were voted tied for fourth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll prior to the start of the season, tied with New Mexico and San Diego State. The Rebels earned a first-place team vote during the poll, Paul Myro IV claiming All-Mountain West Preseason Team honors.
