Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils at UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Arizona State Sun Devils look to rebound from a blowout loss when they visit the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in a nonconference baseball matchup Monday evening at T-Mobile Arena.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. PDT under partly cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 79 degrees.

Arizona State (17-6) enters after a 12-1 loss at Kansas State on Sunday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Prior to that, the Sun Devils had won eight of their last nine, including taking two of three from the Wildcats over the weekend.

UNLV (15-9) also seeks a response after an 11-1 home loss to Utah Tech on Sunday. The Rebels had won three of their previous four games.

A key player to watch for Arizona State is reliever Austin Musso. In Sunday’s loss, he provided 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Over his last three appearances, he has allowed just two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts.

UNLV will look for a strong outing from reliever Tate Foxson. He delivered 2 2/3 innings with one earned run in Sunday’s defeat. In a Feb. 25 win over Western Michigan, he pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.

The neutral-site game at the home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights offers a unique backdrop for both programs before they resume their regular schedules.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Arizona State 8, UNLV 6.

Following this game, Arizona State returns home to face New Mexico State on Wednesday before a weekend series against West Virginia. UNLV continues its homestand, opening a three-game series against San Jose State on Friday.

The teams are scheduled to meet again in a rematch at Arizona State on April 8.