BASEBALL SET FOR UW-MILWAUKEE AT EARL E. WILSON STADIUM
X: @unlvbaseball | IG: @unlvbaseball | Schedule | Game Notes
SCHEDULE (all times in PST)
Friday, Feb. 28 at 6:05 pm
Saturday, Mar. 1 at 12:05 pm (DH)
Sunday, Mar. 2 at 12:05 pm
MATCHUP HISTORY
All-time vs. Milwaukee: 0-0
2025 vs. Ranked Opponents: 4-3
2024 vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-0
All-Time vs. Horizon League programs: 0-0
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 Hustlin‘ Rebels have been able to produce two batters with a batting average of .350 or higher through the first two weeks of the season, JP Hefft (.375) and Cole Konarisky (.355) representing the highest averages. Hefft’s average ranks him eighth among all Mountain West batters in the early season, Konarisky just outside the top-10 with an 11th-place spot. Hefft’s batting average has led him to a top-five placement in hits in the Mountain West, tied for third heading into the weekend with 12 hits.
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 with his three home runs on the season (3), sitting second in RBIs (11).
Alex Overbay stands as the top Rebel closer through the first two weeks of the season, the sophomore picking up both of his wins so far in 2025 against #25/#23 Cincinnati last weekend. Through his three outings, the Tumwater, Wash., native has pitched 6.1 innings and collected 12 strikeouts. Sophomore starter LJ Mercurius leads the Rebels with 13 K’s of his own, currently sitting third in the Mountain West.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Panthers head into the weekend with the second-strongest schedule in all of NCAA DI programs (according to WarrenNolan.com), previously facing off against Mercer and South Carolina. Despite only winning the season-opening match against Mercer, Tyler Bickers sits as the highest-average batter in the lineup on a .286 mark with six hits on the season.
Milwaukee was tabbed no. 4 in the 2025 Horizon League Baseball Preseason Poll to start the season, returning key contributors to the 2024 lineup in Teige Lethert, Thomas Otto, Justin Hausser, Gabe Roessler, Q Phillips and Bickers under second-year head coach Saun Wegner.
Gavin Theis has produced the most innings in the Panther bullpen, pitching 11.1 innings and two starts to kick off the season. Logan Schulfer totals the highest strikeout rate on the roster, totaling 11 in two starts that included seven on South Carolina in five innings.
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 was 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.