Feb. 27, 2001

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV baseball team defeated Southern Utah 9-5 on Tuesday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The win improves the Rebels to 6-9 on the season, while the Thunderbirds fall to 1-10.

Courtney Hall earned the win for UNLV. He pitched six innings, giving up four runs on five hits with six strikeouts. C.J. Martin came in for relief, pitching two innings and giving up one run on three hits. Junior Joe Maruffi, out all season due to injury, made his first mound appearance. He pitched the ninth inning, striking out the side.

UNLV and Southern Utah, scoreless in the first, swapped runs in the second inning. UNLV's Zach Strong singled to right center, scoring Brent Johnson who reached on an error.

The Thunderbirds took a brief two run lead through three before the Rebels were able to post a pair of runs in both the four and fifth innings.

In the fourth, Jason Reuss singled to center and stole second before reaching the plate on an error by the shortstop. Strong, who reached base on the error, later scored on a Brad Beasley single to left field.

Garett Shitanishi led off the fifth inning with a single to right field, advanced to second on a John Cruz sacrifice and scored on a Trent Kitsch double to right center. Kitsch later scored on a Reuss single up the middle.

Leading 6-4, the Rebels posted three runs in the seventh. In identical fashion to the fifth, Shitanishi led off the inning with a single and crossed the plate on a Kitsch double to right center. Kitsch stole third and scored on an error by the catcher. Brent Johnson later singled to score Joe Jacobitz who reached on a hit-by-pitch.

Five Rebels ended the game with two hits in the ballgame. Shitanishi went 2-for-5, while Kitsch, Johnson and Beasley all finished 2-for-4. Reuss went 2-for-3.

UNLV travels to College Station, Texas this weekend for the Aggie Continental Express Baseball Classic. The Rebels are scheduled to compete against Indiana State, Penn State and Texas A&M.