DEFENDING MOUNTAIN WEST REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS PICKED FIRST IN MW PRESEASON POLL
UNLV baseball was picked to finish first in the 2023 MW Preseason Poll for the first time in program history.
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The UNLV Hustlin’ Rebel baseball team was picked to finish first in the 2023 Mountain West Preseason Poll, which was voted on by the Conference’s seven head coaches. This is the first time in program history that the Scarlet & Gray was selected as the preseason favorite.
Additionally, the coaches tabbed junior center fielder Rylan Charles, junior left fielder Austin Kryszczuk and senior second baseman Edarian Williams to the MW Preseason All-Conference Team.
Coming off of a very successful 2022 season, UNLV secured four first-place votes and accumulated a total of 33 points to finish atop the preseason rankings. San Jose State claimed two first-place votes and amassed 27 points for second place. The San Diego State Aztecs took third this season with 25 points. Fresno State, which took the final first-place vote and totaled 24 points, Air Force (21 points), UNR (10 points) and New Mexico (seven points) rounded out fourth through seventh, respectively.
Charles was named preseason all-conference for the first time after earning a spot on the 2022 MW All-Conference First Team last season. Charles ended the 2022 season ranked in the top 100 of four NCAA statistical categories: fourth in hits per game (1.74), eighth in hits (99), 34th in batting average (.382) and 92nd in runs per game (1.09). The Reno native started in all 57 games played last season and 24 of his 99 hits went for extra bases with 16 doubles, six home runs and two triples, which resulted in a .529 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .452. Rylan owned two hitting streaks of at least 15 games, the longest streak lasting 23 games, with a .404 batting average, 47 hits, 27 runs, 17 RBI and four home runs. The center fielder posted a total of 164 putouts, six assists and one error to conclude the 2022 season with a .994 fielding percentage.
Kryszczuk was named to the 2023 MW Preseason All-Conference Team for the first time after he also earned a spot on the 2022 MW All-Conference First Team. The Las Vegas native ended last season ranked in the top 100 of five NCAA statistical categories: 10th in runs per game (1.28), 11th in runs (74), 41st in walks (46), 44th in doubles (21) and 62nd in base on balls per game (.79). Kryszczuk started in all 58 games played, batted .342 with 80 hits, 36 of which went for extra bases (21 doubles, 12 home runs and three triples). Austin also knocked in 58 RBI, led the Rebels in runs with 74 and had a slugging percentage of .611 and an on-base percentage of .461. Kryszczuk ended the 2022 season with three hitting streaks of at least five games, the longest streak going for 19 games with a .361 average, 37 runs, 35 hits, 29 RBI and eight home runs. The left fielder totaled 105 putouts, seven assists and two errors for a .982 fielding average last season.
A MW All-Conference Second Team selection last season, Williams was named to the MW Preseason All-Conference Team for the third consecutive year after being named to the 2022 MW All-Conference Second Team last season. The Las Vegas native finished the 2022 season ranked in the top 100 of four NCAA statistical categories: 10th in triples (six), 31st in triples per game (.10), 46th in RBI (67) and 53rd in RBI per game (1.16). Williams started in all 58 games played, he batted a .313 with 73 hits, 28 of which went for extra bases (11 doubles, 11 home runs and six triples), while he also knocked in 67 RBI and scored 56 runs. Edarian ended the season leading the Rebels in triples (six), had a slugging percentage of .554 and a .414 on-base percentage. He owned four hitting streaks of at least seven games, the longest lasting 11 games, where he produced a .359 batting average, 20 hits (including a grand slam), 14 runs and 26 RBI. Williams posted 109 putouts, 177 assists and 14 errors for a .953 fielding average.
2023 SEASON: The Hustlin’ Rebels will play a total of 55 regular-season games, pending outstanding contracts, with 30 of those against Mountain West competition and 25 versus 13 nonconference squads. In all, the Rebels will play 22 home contests in Las Vegas with 21 of those on campus at Earl E. Wilson Stadium and one more – a March 28 affair against Arizona State – at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin.
The Scarlet & Gray will play 10 three-game series against each MW squad with five at home (San Diego State, Fresno State, UNR, New Mexico and Air Force) and five on the road (UNR, Air Force, San Jose State, San Diego State and Fresno State). Nine of the 10 conference series will take place on weekends (Friday night-Sunday), the lone exception being a home contest against Air Force May 18-20 (Thursday-Saturday).
UNLV will kick off the 2023 season with a three-game home series versus Pacific (Feb. 17-29) before hitting the road for a single game at Arizona State (Feb. 21) and four at Fowler Park & Cunningham Field/Tony Gwynn Stadium for the Tony Gwynn Memorial Tournament against UC San Diego, Hawai’i, UC Irvine and Washington State (Feb. 24-27).
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023 Hustlin’ Rebels season will go on sale today at 9 a.m., and each season ticket holder account will receive a complimentary UNLV throw blanket, while supplies last. Season tickets can be purchased at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267).
