Dickerson slowly rising out of slump

RENO -- After earning freshman All-American honors, Nevada junior Chris Dickerson didn't respond well to lofty preseason expectations to start the 2002 season. After a slow start, he still hit .301 but missed almost half of his sophomore season.

He began the 2003 season with more expectations. He was a preseason All-WAC pick and was tabbed the 8th overall best MLB prospect in the Western Athletic Conference. But once again Dickerson has struggled. He started the season going 0-for-16 at the plate but things appear to be turning around for the 6-foot-4 outfielder.

"Last year it bothered me but I'm kind of over that," Dickerson said of feeling pressure about those expectations. "I'm feeling really comfortable. I've been working on my swing the last couple of weeks and sometimes it takes a while when you change things. It's just a technique thing. It's just a work in progress."

Dickerson went 2-for-4 in Nevada's 8-6 win over UC-Riverside on Saturday at Peccole Park. Since his horrid start, he has gone 21-of-81, which isn't great but it's better than before. Dickerson, who has slipped to No. 6 in the batting order, was a .311 hitter in his first two seasons and has raised his batting average this weekend from .205 to .216.

CAPPUCCILLI NEARLY HITS FOR CYCLE

Catcher Tony Cappuccilli went 4-for-4 in Saturday's win and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle. The 6-foot-2, 230 pound senior had two solo homers, a single and a double in the two-run win. Cappuccilli, who isn't know for blinding speed, has one triple this season but doesn't expect to get another one.

"I've had one this year, I can't ask for another one. People are going to think I'm fast or something. I don't want to give them the wrong impression."

BASCH CONTINUES STRONG RELIEF PITCHING

Zachary Basch, who earned WAC Player of the Week honors last week after earning three saves in a road sweep of Hawai'i, pitched for the first time since that series on Saturday. He replaced starter J.T. Sherman in the eighth inning with runners on the corners and Nevada leading 8-3. He pitched two innings, giving up two hits and one run. Basch has five saves this season.

HASS MISSES FIRST TWO GAMES

Mike Hass, who was drilled in the knee with a pitch in a 17-8 loss to Pacific on Tuesday, didn't play for the second straight game. His parents flew in this weekend from Georgia but might leave without seeing him play. The 5-foot-10 sophomore is also expected to miss today's series finale against the Highlanders.

BACK IN THE BIG WEST

Nevada, which played in the Big West Conference before moving over the WAC, has played 14 games this season against teams from its former conference. The Wolf Pack are 5-9 in those games.