University of Nevada baseball preview box

BASEBALL: UNLV (8-8) AT NEVADA (6-9)

When: Friday (2 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.), Sunday (1 p.m.)

Where: Peccole Park

TV/Radio: None/ESPN Radio 630 AM, pre-game is 15 minutes prior to first pitch

Coaches: Gary Powers (Nevada); Buddy Gouldsmith (UNLV)

Pitching rotation: Friday - Nevada's Ryan Rodriguez (2-2, 2.51) vs. Craig Heyer (2-2, 5.52); Saturday - Nevada's Rod Scurry (0-3, 9.39) vs. Chris Saddonis (0-2, 4.71); Sunday - Nevada's Kyle Howe (0-1, 5.40) vs. TBA.

UNLV starters: 1B - Efren Navarro (.408, HR, 12 RBI) or Chris Bonnell (.286, HR, 2 RBI); 2B - Rance Roundy (.294, RBI); SS Jared Frierson (.250) or Braden Walker (.203, 9 RBI); 3B Xavier Scruggs (.233, HR, 4 RBI); LF Blake Gailen (.360, 2 HR, 11 RBI), CF Ryan Kowalski (.351, 7 RBI); RF Keith Smith (.338, 10 RBI) or Calvin Beamon (.324, 7 RBI); DH Chad Miller (.305, HR. 9 RBI); C Michael Brenly (.280, 14 RBI)

Nevada starters: 1B Shaun Kort (.404, HR, 16 RBI); 2B David Ciarlo (.300, 7 RBI); SS Chris Siewert (.273, 3 RBI) or Owen Mackedon (.227, HR, 2 RBI) 3B Jason Rodriguez (.250, 5 RBI); LF Mike Hale (.259, 4 RBI) or Terry Walsh (.342, 2 HR, 6 RBI); CF Jason Sadoian (.343, 2 RBI); RF Dan Eastham (.314, 6 RBI) or Walsh; C Konrad Schmidt (.367, 6 HR, 21 RBI); DH Baker Krukow (.290, 3 RBI)

NOTES: This was supposed to be a family affair with Nevada's Matt Bowman against his cousin, former Carson High infielder, Willie, an infielder with the Rebels. However, Matt Bowman tore a pectoral muscle, and Willie Bowman is slumping at the plate and hitting just .063 in seven games ... The Pack has been off since Saturday because of storms that have passed through the area ... One key to the series will be Nevada getting ahead early. The Wolf Pack is 0-8 when trailing after six innings ... Nevada has six players - Kort, Schmidt, Sadoian, Walsh, Eastham and Ciarlo - hitting .300 or better ... Kort and Schmidt have combined to drive for 37 of Nevada's 81 RBI thus far ... Ryan Rodriguez (2-2. 2.51) is Nevada's starter on Friday. Jacob Kaup, who blanked Buffalo over five innings of relief, has yet to allow an earned run over 12 innings, and opponents are hitting just .205 against him ... UNLV's pitching coach is Nate Yeskie, a former Carson High pitcher for Ron McNutt... If you go to Saturday's men's basketball game against New Mexico State, you can get into the Sunday baseball game free by just showing your ticket stub.

Compiled by Darrell Moody