FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LAS VEGAS – The UNLV baseball team released its schedule for the upcoming 2011 season Wednesday afternoon, announced first-year head coach Tim Chambers.
The Rebels will play 30 of their 56 games in the friendly confines of Wilson Stadium, including 15 of their first 21 to start the year. UNLV will also square up against six teams that qualified for postseason play a year ago, including conference rivals TCU and New Mexico for six games apiece.
“We will always be looking to keep our non-conference schedule strong for RPI purposes,” said Chambers. “We have an extremely tough conference schedule this year. Playing two of the top teams in the conference – TCU and New Mexico – six times apiece will be no picnic.”
UNLV will open the season with eight games at home, hosting Maine, Feb. 18-20, followed by Central Michigan, Feb. 25-27.
“It’s definitely an advantage to play at home early in the season with a new staff and many new players,” said Chambers. “Hopefully we can get some fan support to get us off on the right foot.”
The Rebels will then hit the road, playing five games in a six-day span, starting with a two-game series in Lubbock, Texas, March 1-2 against Texas Tech. After returning from Lubbock, UNLV will head north to Reno for a three-game series with the Wolf Pack, March 4-6.
Arizona travels to Las Vegas for back-to-back games on March 8-9; marking the first of six teams UNLV will play that qualified for postseason action in 2010. The Rebels will host Valparaiso in a four-game series, March 11-13, before traveling west to California for a single game against Cal State Northridge on March 15.
College World Series semifinalist TCU comes to town March 18-20, while UC Irvine, a NCAA Tournament participant a year ago, will be at Wilson Stadium on March 23. UNLV will then embark on its longest road trip of the season – six games – at New Mexico, March 25-27, and at Utah April 1-3.
Cal State Northridge comes to Las Vegas to complete the home and home on April 5 followed by a three-game set against Sacred Heart April 8-10. The Rebels travel to Riverside, Calif., for a single game against UC Riverside before returning home for a three-game series with BYU, April 14-16.
UNLV will head to Texas for a single game against NCAA Regional qualifier Baylor on April 19, then travel to Forth Worth for a three-game series at TCU, April 21-23. Rounding out the month of April will be a weekend series against New Mexico April 29-May 1. The Rebels will remain at home against Southern Utah on May 3 before embarking on their final road trip of the season.
UNLV will head north to Washington for a weekend series against Washington State, a 2010 NCAA Regional qualifier, May 6-8. The Rebels are at Air Force, May 13-15, before returning home to face UC Riverside on May 17, and San Diego State, May 20-22, to close out the regular season.
“Our staff is very excited for the 2011 campaign,” added Chambers. “We believe in always setting high expectations for ourselves and the players. The bottom line is we have to perform on the field.”
The Mountain West Conference Tournament will be held in San Diego, Calif., May 24-28.
