Rainout allows Rebels to retool their rotation

Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

Sunday afternoon's rainout against Nevada-Reno gave UNLV's baseball team a timely day of rest before a brief road trip and shifted coach Buddy Gouldsmith's rotation in an enviable manner.

Now, instead of throwing an inexperienced and untested starter to the mound Tuesday night in Irvine, Calif., Gouldsmith will rely on No. 3 starter David Seccombe.

A senior right-hander out of Cimarron-Memorial High, Seccombe was 3-1 in seven appearances for the Rebels last season. This season, he's been rocked (7.88 earned-run average) in two appearances.

But Gouldsmith said he is looking forward to Seccombe's effort at UC-Irvine.

"We're throwing our third starter in a mid-week game, and that's more experience than what we would have had," Gouldsmith said. "Then someone will have to step up next weekend, when we play Michigan State, to fill in that role."

Sunday's washout gave the Rebels (5-3) a two-game, weekend sweep of their rival Wolf Pack, who had defeated UNLV in five of the teams' past eight games over the previous three seasons.

In addition, after a season-opening three-game sweep by Cal State Fullerton in Southern California, the Rebels have put together a splendid winning streak during an opportune stretch.

They play at Irvine (5-2-1) on Tuesday, then return home to play 10 consecutive games at Wilson Stadium, starting with Michigan State this weekend.

"Guys have defined roles, and we'll continue to see where guys fit in," Gouldsmith said. "We're on a mini-roll here. Hopefully, we can continue it."

So far, most everyone has played at the high standards that Gouldsmith has established, he said. Ryan Ruiz, however, has raced out of the gate this year.

A senior second baseman from Silverado High, Ruiz is hitting .452. Friday, he smacked a two-run double against Reno. Saturday, he drove in three more with a key double. A year ago, Ruiz hit .296.

"As a senior and with as much experience as he has, I thought he'd play well," Gouldsmith said. "But he's exceeded expectations, to this point. He's been on fire. It's a game of streak and slumps, and you have to maximize the streaks and minimize the slumps.

"So far,he's been on one long streak. Hopefully, it will be a season-long streak."