Peoria, Ill – Bradley continues its opening stretch of the 2026 season with a road trip to Las Vegas, where the Braves will face UNLV in their third away matchup of the year as they look to build momentum early in the Justin Dedman era.
UNLV enters the series at 2-2 overall after splitting four games with Austin Peay. Bradley sits at 1-3 through its first four contests.
Bradley Braves Overview
Through four games, Bradley is hitting .222 as a team with 28 hits and 17 runs scored. The Braves have emphasized aggressiveness on the bases, going 7-for-9 in stolen base attempts, while continuing to stress situational execution.
Ashton Horchem has paced the lineup early with a .375 batting average and a .615 on-base percentage. Cal Leighton is hitting .500 in limited action, while Anthony Martinez has supplied extra-base impact with a home run and a .533 slugging percentage. Hayden Miller has added power and speed, contributing a home run and three stolen bases.
The Braves have recorded 25 strikeouts but have also issued 29 walks, making command a focal point entering the weekend.
Defensively, Bradley has turned 12 double plays and owns a .942 fielding percentage , reflecting Dedman's emphasis on fundamentals and clean execution.
UNLV Rebels Overview
UNLV is hitting .290 as a team through four games with 40 hits and 31 runs scored. The Rebels have drawn 19 walks and struck out 41 times, posting a .404 team on-base percentage.
Drew Barragan leads the offense with a .417 average and five RBIs, while Jack Salmon and Cooper Sheff have each recorded six hits. Marcos Rosales has added early power with two home runs.
On the mound, UNLV carries a 6.57 team ERA over 37 innings. The Rebels have allowed 29 runs and issued 32 walks.Defensively, UNLV holds a .968 fielding percentage.
Matchup Outlook
Both teams enter the series looking for early-season consistency. Bradley will aim to leverage its speed and continue creating scoring opportunities through aggressive base running. Limiting walks and tightening command on the mound will be critical against a UNLV lineup that has shown the ability to string together quality at-bats.
UNLV's offensive depth and defensive steadiness present a challenge, but if the Braves can control counts and play clean defense, they will position themselves to compete late. As the Dedman era continues to take shape, each road test provides another opportunity to establish rhythm, toughness, and identity heading deeper into the nonconference schedule.
