New-look Rebels to open baseball season vs. Cal

Victoria Sun

Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 | 9:33 a.m.

The UNLV baseball team's nonconference schedule includes games against baseball heavyweights such as Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma State and Arizona State.

The Rebels begin the season today at 6:30 p.m. with the opener of a three-game homestand at Earl E. Wilson Stadium against Cal, a team that reached the NCAA Regionals last year.

Yet UNLV isn't fearful of its beefed-up schedule.

"I'm excited about the schedule," designated hitter David Trujillo said. "This is the way we're going to get some recognition, if we go out there and beat those teams.

"That's the only way you build up a program, by playing good teams and beating them. I have complete confidence in our pitching staff and our entire team."

This will be the team's first season under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who spent the last eight seasons at Tulane, a team ranked sixth in the USA Today/ ESPN preseason poll.

Trujillo led UNLV (23-33 overall, 13-17 Mountain West last year) with a .371 batting average last season. He set a Mountain West record with a 29-game hitting streak.

This year's offense will again be powered by Trujillo, second baseman Garrett Shitanishi, who hit .351 last season, and right fielder Jason Reuss, who hit .306.

The infield will be anchored by third baseman Brent Johnson, who earned freshman All-America honors last year, catcher James Nepa, first baseman Steve Goldberg and shortstop Ryan Ruiz.

UNLV's ERA of 6.34 was fourth in the Mountain West a year ago, as the team was hampered by injuries to several pitchers including starter Courtney Hall and reliever Jake Gann.

Schlossnagle said sophomore left-hander Robbie Van (1-5, 7.80) will start today's game, followed by righties Jared Bonnell (4-7, 7.21) and University of San Francisco transfer David Seccombe (3-4, 4.63).

"We're excited," Schlossnagle said. "The kids are ready to play. This is the time of year where practice gets old quick and you're ready to see a different color uniform out there.

"From a baseball standpoint, I just want them to be conscious of playing the game right. I want them to play hard, get the sure out and throw strikes."