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MWC Diamond Notes Rebels face Lobos this week in critical league series.
May 6, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - UNLV has won 14 of its last 16 conference games and holds a four-game lead in the standings with six regular season contests remaining. However, the 16th ranked Rebels face second-place New Mexico in Albuquerque this week. UNLV swept the Lobos in Las Vegas earlier this season. In other conference action this week, Air Force travels to Utah and BYU hosts San Diego State. QUICK HITS FROM AROUND THE MWC Air Force was outscored 49-12 in the New Mexico series, but Adam Howes posted solid numbers at .545 (6-for-11) with two doubles and a home run ... BYU is 8-4 in its last 12 conference games, including three losses to nationally ranked UNLV. BYU sophomore Ryan Chambers, this week's MWC Player of the Week, raised his batting average from .326 to .344 after hitting .600 with two home runs and eight RBI last week ... New Mexico outhit Air Force .412 to .250 last week and set a MWC records with 25 runs scored, 56 at bats and 23 RBI in game one vs. the Falcons. Lobo sophomore Josh Mader also set a league record with eight at bats in game one vs. Air Force as he went 4-for-8 ... San Diego State junior Anthony Gwynn was 9-for-12 vs. UNLV last week and is now batting .541 with three doubles and a triple in his last eight games ... UNLV junior third baseman Brent Johnson tied a school record for career doubles (66) after hitting three last weekend vs. San Diego State. The Rebels, enjoying a No. 16 national ranking this week, would set an MWC record for most conference wins if they win half of their remaining six league contests (UNM won 22 MWC games in 2000) ... Utah sophomore reliever Brady Martinez, who currently leads the Ute pitching staff with a 2.84 ERA in 16 appearances, has seven saves this season. He needs just one more to tie the school single-season record of eight. In addition, with one save last season as a freshman, he now has eight on his career -- just one away from the Utah record of nine. IN THE POLLS UNLV was the first MWC team to make an appearance in the national rankings this season. The Rebels are currently No. 16 in the latest (May 5) Baseball America poll. The Rebels were last ranked during the 1996 season when USA Today had them 22nd, Baseball America 23rd and Collegiate Baseball ranked them 28th. THE RPI RANKINGS UNLV leads the MWC at No. 40 in the Boyd's World RPI rankings as of April 27, followed by New Mexico at No. 47. As a conference, the MWC is ranked 14th. Overall this season, the Mountain West has posted a .500 or better record vs. seven of the top 13 conferences in the RPI rankings (the MWC has not played the SEC, ACC or Atlantic Sun), including a 10-10 mark vs. the Big West, a 4-3 slate vs. Conference USA and a 4-3 record vs. the Sun Belt. NON-CONFERENCE RECORD
The MWC has picked up a league record seven victories over ranked opponents this season. Overall, the MWC has a four-year best 75-67 (.528) mark in non-league play, including a 41-16 (.719) mark on the home field.
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