March 17, 2000

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Senior first baseman Tony DeMarco homered twice, but it wasn't enough to lead the UNLV baseball team to victory as the Rebels dropped their fourth straight Mountain West Conference game Friday, falling to Utah 5-2 at Franklin-Covey Field.

DeMarco hit his first shot in the first inning, giving Giovanni Pupo a lead before he even stepped on the mound. The Utes (9-14) responded, getting one run in the second and one in the third to take away the Rebels' (7-19) lead.

Utah did its damage in the fourth, however, as Rob Stuart hit a two-out, three-run homer to put Utah up 5-1.

DeMarco, who finished the afternoon 3-for-4, led off the ninth with his second homer of the day off Utah starter Jared Cavaness. The Utes called on Mitch Maio in relief, who struck out the only two batters he faced to save the win.

Pupo completed the Rebels' first complete game of the season, allowing five runs on eight hits and two homers.

Nate Kaup improved his team-best batting average to .349 with a 2-for-4 day, including a double.

The two schools will resume the three-game series on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. start of game two.