UNLV baseball set attendance mark, has memorable opening series

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015 | 2 a.m.

This is the type of environment UNLV baseball coach Tim Chambers envisioned when he became the Rebels’ coach five seasons ago.

The line of fans waiting to get into Earl E. Wilson Stadium last Friday for UNLV’s season opener against Nebraska was so long it stretched about 500 feet, ending near the UNLV softball field. The standing-room only crowd of 3,173 fans was the first sellout and best-attended game in school history. Some fans were turned away.

The crowds continued the rest of the weekend with an attendance Saturday of 1,607 and Sunday of 1,662. Those totals rank third and fourth all-time in program history. Wilson Stadium sits 3,000 — 2,500 seats and 500 in bleachers.

“My ambition is to see a fanny in every seat,” Chambers said. “Friday night, I was like, ‘Wow, this is what we wanted.’ Then to follow it up with 1,700 on Saturday and Sunday, that is what college baseball is about. It should happen like that here every weekend. It was a neat thing to see.”

UNLV captured the series against No. 23 Nebraska by taking two of three games, using 7 and 2/3 scoreless innings Sunday from Coronado High product D.J. Myers in his Rebels debut for the series-clinching win.

More important, Myers had a cheering contingent of about 20 supporters. Chambers, the former Bishop Gorman High and College of Southern Nevada coach, has delivered in his desires to build the UNLV team with local players. Myers is one of 16 from Southern Nevada on this year’s roster, helping fill the stadium on game day.

The players responded to the crowd in delivering two significant victories. Last season, UNLV reached a NCAA Regional for the first time since 2005, and wins against a ranked opponent will enhance the Rebels’ credentials come the tournament-selection process this spring.

But, no matter how good the crowds remain, UNLV has no chance to host a NCAA Regional come the postseason. NCAA rules prohibit a Nevada location from hosting a regional in basketball or baseball.

Still, UNLV officials submitted paperwork last year to host, and Chambers remains hopeful that college sport’s governing body will one day change its philosophy.

With crowds like during the Nebraska series, they would surely have to listen to UNLV’s proposal.

“Hopefully the NCAA let’s us do that at some point,” Chambers said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21