UNLV Hustlin' Rebels Host Austin Peay Governors in Season Opener

The two teams meet for the first time in program history in a four-game series starting Friday night.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels baseball team is coming off a surprisingly strong season but has lost some key players. They'll open their non-conference schedule on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas against the Austin Peay Governors, who were tabbed as the preseason favorites in the ASUN Conference after going 45-14 overall and 26-4 in conference play last year. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs.

Why it matters

The Rebels are looking to build on their success from last season and get off to a strong start against a highly-ranked opponent. For Austin Peay, this series represents an early opportunity to prove their preseason ranking is warranted against a solid Mountain West foe.

The details

The four-game series will begin on Friday night and include a doubleheader on Saturday. UNLV will be relying on junior right-hander Carson Lane, who was named First-Team All Mountain West last season and is projected to be one of the top pitchers in the conference this year. Austin Peay is led by infielder Ray Velazquez, the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year who batted .364 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 2025.

  • The series begins on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Carson Lane

A junior right-hander for the UNLV Hustlin' Rebels who was named First-Team All Mountain West last season and is projected to be one of the top pitchers in the conference this year.

Ray Velazquez

The infielder for the Austin Peay Governors who was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year after batting .364 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 2025.

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What’s next

The winner of this series could gain some early-season momentum and confidence heading into conference play.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Hustlin' Rebels and Governors represents an intriguing non-conference clash between two programs looking to build on recent success and establish themselves as contenders in their respective conferences.