March 15, 2000

ST. GEORGE, Utah - The UNLV baseball team hit four home runs and scored 11 runs in a 11-4 rout of Southern Utah at Dixie College's Bruce Hurst Field Wednesday.

Nate Kaup gave the Rebels (7-18) an early lead with a solo shot to center field in the top of the second inning. Meanwhile, Luke Anderson cruised through the first four innings, scattering three singles and avoiding potential trouble caused by two UNLV errors.

John Cruz's RBI double in the fourth and costly errors by the Thunderbirds (7-9) in the fifth and sixth upped UNLV's lead to 6-0. Kaup and Brad Maloff both singled to drive in runs.

After battling through the fifth, Anderson finally surrendered his first runs in the sixth. Southern Utah led the inning with a walk and two singles. UNLV went to setup man C.J. Martin, but the damage was done as all three runners scored, cutting the Rebels' lead to 6-3.

UNLV extracted revenge in the next inning. Adam Manley led off, slamming his second homer of the season. Maloff followed with a single and a stolen base and scored on a double by Harold Betts. Denny Seybert followed with a single to score Betts and give the Rebels their three runs back.

Just to seal the win, Maloff hit a solo shot in the ninth. Trent Kitsch, pinch hitting for Betts, followed Maloff's shot with one of his own, turning on a 3-1 pitch and sending it over the right field fence.

The Rebels continue their four-game Utah swing with the first of three games against Mountain West Conference foe Utah. The Utes are 8-14 overall and open their home season against the Rebels on Friday, March 17 at Franklin-Covey Field in Salt Lake City.