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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV baseball head coach Tim Chambers released his 2014 schedule on Wednesday.
Chamber’s fourth season at the school will be highlighted by facing nationally perennial teams from conferences such as the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and Big West. The Rebels will make their first road trip to the Eastern Time Zone since 2000 and will host the annual Mountain West tournament for the sixth time.
“When we took the job, we wanted to play teams that are consistently ranked in the top 25,” Chambers said. “We have recruited guys by telling them that they will have an opportunity to play at some great ball parks and play tough teams. This year’s schedule is our follow through on that promise.”
The regular season will begin at home February 14 with the start of a four-game series against Central Michigan. The following weekend the Rebels will travel to Tennessee for a three-game set. It will mark the first time in program history that UNLV will play a game in The Volunteer State.
On February 28 through March 2, the Rebels will open Mountain West conference play against Air Force at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. After a midweek game against UC Riverside on March 3 in Las Vegas, the Rebels will make their first conference road trip of the season at New Mexico from March 7-9.
Following the trip to Albuquerque, N.M., UNLV will host West Virginia for the second time in school history on March 11 and then travel to face MW newcomer San Jose State from March 14-16. The Rebels will stay in the Golden State for a midweek matchup against Cal State Fullerton on March 18.
UNLV will then return home to face North Dakota on March 19 for the first time in school history before resuming MW play against San Diego State March 21-23. The Rebels will wrap up a five-game home stand against Utah Valley State on March 25.
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On March 28, UNLV will hit the road for nine straight road games. The Rebels will open the road trip in the Cornhusker State against Nebraska on March 28-30 and will finish against Creighton on March 31 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. The Rebels will open the month of April at Fresno State (April 4-6) before traveling to Arkansas (April 8-9) for the first time in school history.
“Our current juniors were our first true recruiting class and this schedule is what they signed up for — to play anyone, anywhere,” said associate head coach Stan Stolte, who is in charge of scheduling. “The whole schedule is tough from start to finish but we will really see what we are made of in that nine-game stretch versus Nebraska, Creighton, Fresno State and Arkansas all on the road. Not to mention the weekend series at Tennessee and Clemson won’t be walks in the park either.”
UNLV will return to Las Vegas to host San Jose State on April 11-13 before traveling to Arizona State on April 15 and to Air Force on April 17-19. The Rebels will then host New Mexico on April 25-27 before heading back on the road.
After a midweek game at UC Riverside on April 29, UNLV will travel coast-to-coast to Clemson, S.C. The Rebels will open the weekend with one neutral-site game against James Madison on May 3 before playing two games against Clemson on May 4-5.
UNLV will then again trade coasts for a three-game series at MW foe San Diego State on May 9-11.
The Rebels will wrap up the regular season at home with a midweek game against Arizona State on May 13 and a three-game series against rival Nevada, Reno on May 15-17. The series against UNR will determine which school is awarded the Governor’s Series points for the season.
“As a staff we are really excited about this year’s schedule,” Chambers said. “We want to face teams that can boost our RPI at the end of the year and our guys are excited for the challenge that comes with facing those kinds of teams.”
For the second time in three years, UNLV will host the Mountain West Championship, which will be played May 21-25.
“Not only will this year’s schedule help our RPI, but it will improve the conference RPI,” Stolte said.
