HUSTLIN’ REBELS TO START MOUNTAIN WEST SCHEDULE AGAINST LOBOS
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The UNLV baseball team kick off conference play with a road trip to Albuquerque, N.M., to take on the New Mexico Lobos.
SCHEDULE (PST)
Friday, Mar. 14 at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 15 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 16 at 11 a.m.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Overall vs. New Mexico: 104-90
In Albuquerque: 27-45
Current Streak: UNM, 1
Last Meeting: The Lobos beat the Hustlin‘ Rebels at Earl E. Wilson 14-2 towards the end of the 2024 season.
BROADCAST INFO: The official livestream for the weekend will be broadcasted on the Mountain West Network. Links to broadcasts as well as live stats are available on unlvrebels.com/sports/baseball/schedule.
THIS SEASON: The Hustlin‘ Rebels have been able to produce two batters with a batting average of .350 or higher through the first couple weeks of the season, JP Hefft (.412) and Cole Koniarsky (.362) representing the highest averages. Hefft’s average ranks him fourth among all Mountain West batters pre to the conference season, Koniarsky just outside the top five with an eighth-place spot. Hefft and Koniarsky’s batting averages have continuously trended them both upwards in the conference ranks, both currently riding a ten-game hitting streak.
UNLV holds several other top marks within the conference, Dean Toigo holding top marks in the Mountain West in RBIs and home runs. The senior outfielder shares the top spot in the Mountain West in home runs on the season (6), claiming the lead in RBIs after Tuesday’s win with 23 on the season. Cooper Sheff also earned his spot among the top in the conference hitting home runs, sitting fifth in the league (4).
Alex Overbay stands as the top Rebel closer through the opening weeks of the season, the sophomore picking up both of his wins so far in 2025 against #25/#23 Cincinnati. Through his six outings, the Tumwater, Wash., native has pitched 9.2 innings and has collected 17 strikeouts. Sophomore starter Carson Lane leads the Rebels with 24 K’s of his own, currently ranked fourth in the Mountain West. Lane’s latest starts have placed him in the top five of the conference in season ERA, rounding out the fifth-place spot on a 3.00 mark.
Cooper Sheff was honored as the Mountain West Freshman of the Week earlier in the season, producing four home runs in a five-game stretch from 2/24 – 3/2. This marked the first Freshman honor for the Rebels since Reese Lueck in the 2023 season, he totaled a slugging percentage of 1.111 and a batting average of .455. The Las Vegas native collected nine RBIs and eight hits during the stretch, his home run against Milwaukee being the final run and difference maker in the 4-3 win.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lobos own the top spot in the league in offense this season, either leading or tying the top spot in batting average (.322), runs (135), hits (186), doubles (45), triples (8), home runs (22) and walks (75). Jordy Oriach emerges as one of the top batters in the conference, ranking second with a .433 batting average and is already a two-time Mountain West Player of the Week.
New Mexico’s pitching will aim to hold down the Hustlin‘ Rebels, Josh Barnhouse owning a 3.18 ERA through nine appearances in 17 innings pitched. Ryan Castillo has been the top Lobo starter this season, pitching 18 innings in four starts on a 5.00 ERA.
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.