March 12, 2015 Game Notes (Games 17-20)
THE SKINNY
After a four-game road swing, the 28th-ranked Nevada baseball team (13-3, 5-1) returns to Peccole Park for a key Mountain West series before playing at a Triple-A stadium in a mid-week matchup. The Wolf Pack hosts New Mexico (10-4, 4-2) on March 13-15 at Peccole Park before taking on Sacramento State (8-6) on March 17 at the Sacramento River Cats' Raley Field.
The top two teams in the MW will meet at Peccole this weekend when the Pack hosts the Lobos. Nevada is 5-1 in conference play and sits in first place while New Mexico is tied for second with a 4-2 mark. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (PT) on Friday while both weekend games are set for 1 p.m. start times.
The Lobos are 10-4 overall after splitting a two-game series with Stephen F. Austin. New Mexico won two-of-three games against Air Force and San Diego State to open a 4-2 conference record. New Mexico leads the series with Nevada, 9-8. The teams last meet on May 23 at the 2014 MW Tournament. With the game tied 4-4 in extras, the Wolf Pack exploded for seven runs in the 11th inning to eliminate the Lobos.
After New Mexico, the Pack will return to action on Tuesday, March 17, against Sacramento State (8-6). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Raley Field in Sacramento, Calif. The Hornets have a four-game series with Cal Poly before taking on the Wolf Pack. Nevada leads the series history, 75-41, after defeating the Hornets last season at Aces Ballpark.
All four games this week will be carried on 1060 AM with Don Marchand on the call. Nevada's three home games against UNM will be streamed live by the MW Network.
LEADING OFF
? The Wolf Pack improved one position to No. 28 in this week's Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll. Nevada is the lone MW team to earn a ranking by the baseball publication.
? Nevada's .813 win-loss percentage ranks 16th in the nation.
? The Pack and Lobos look like a similar team on paper. Nevada has a slight edge over UNM in team batting average (.290-.274), while the Lobos have a small advantage in team ERA (4.21-4.43).
? New Mexico will be playing their first true road game of the season when they visit Peccole Park.
? Nevada is an undefeated 7-0 at Peccole Park this season, winning 80 percent (24-6) of its home games under head coach Jay Johnson in the past two years.
? The Wolf Pack will be playing at Raley Field for the second time in program history. Nevada is 1-4 in its last five road games at Sacramento State.
? Senior
Austin Byler has reached base in all 16 games this season with an active 23-game reached base streak dating back to last season.
? Junior
Ryan Howell ranks second in the MW in batting average (.429) while ranking tied for first nationally in home runs and fourth in RBI.
? In his past seven appearances, junior
Adam Whitt has allowed no runs and two hits while lowering his season ERA to 0.71. Nevada is 10-0 this season in games Whitt makes an appearance in.
