Feb. 5, 2000

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV baseball team fell behind early and never recovered, dropping the finale of its two-game series against Southern Utah, 11-7 at Wilson Stadium on Saturday.

Rebel starting pitcher Luke Anderson was roughed up early, allowing the Thunderbirds four runs in the first three innings. Home runs by Amos Bright in the first and Keith Dickinson in the third gave Southern Utah (1-1) a 4-2 advantage after three.

The Thunderbirds continued the scoring outpour in the fourth, burning the Rebels (2-3) for three singles and two walks. Anderson was lifted in the fourth, but not before SUU added three more runs.

Senior rightfielder Nate Kaup, who went 5-for-5 in the series opener, had hit safely in six straight at bats entering Saturday's game. Kaup doubled in his first sppearance to drive home a run and later walked, but saw his consecutive hit streak stopped at seven in the fifth inning, one hit short of the UNLV record of eight.

Southern Utah starter Zach Barnard enjoyed a lead from start to finish and cruised through seven innings, giving up eight hits and fanning eight.

Offensively, the Rebels were led by centerfielder John Cruz, who went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a stolen base.

UNLV will not play again until Friday, Feb. 11, when they host No. 4 UCLA in a 3:05 p.m. game at Wilson Stadium.