Feb. 3, 2001
LAS VEGAS - The Hustlin' Rebels are off to a 2-0 start after a 10-9 victory over Washington State at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Saturday. Courtney Hall (1-0) picked up the win for the Rebels, going five innings and giving up four runs on five hits. Jake Gann earned his second save in as many games. Tyson Thompson (0-1) picked up the loss for the Cougars, who fall to 1-5 on the season.
Washington State again struck early, scoring two runs to start the ballgame. Stefan Bailie hit a sac-fly to center field, scoring Evan Hecker who walked to start the inning. Bookie Gates later doubled through the left side to score Mike Knight.
UNLV matched the Cougars' first inning runs in almost identical fashion. Ryan Ruiz walked to start the inning and eventually rounded home on a Trent Kitsch sac-fly to right field. A Joe Jacobitz single to right field later in the inning would score John Cruz who reached on an error.
The Rebels added a pair of runs in the second thanks to sloppy play by the Cougars. James Nepa led off with a single to left field and would eventually score due in part to two Washington State errors. Zach Strong, who reached base on an error, would later score on a wild pitch and give the Rebels a two run lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the third before the Rebels posted three more runs in the fourth. Brent Johnson led off with a bunt then stole second. Cruz reached on another costly Cougar error, scoring Johnson. Cruz eventually rounded home on a single to centerfield by Kitsch. WSU's Thompson loaded the bases and walked James Nepa to score Tony Schuler before leaving the inning.
Washington State battled back with a pair of runs in the each the fifth and seventh innings, but the Rebels answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Cruz picked up two RBI on a double through the left side, scoring Strong and Schuler. Cruz later scored on a wild pitch.
The Cougars used a two-out rally in the eighth to score three runs and threatened to add more before Jake Gann struck out Washington State's Justin Williams. Gann forced a fly out and two grounders to end the ballgame with a 10-9 score and secure his second save, two games into season.
James Nepa finished the game 3-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Brent Johnson went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. John Cruz, despite going only 1-for-4, managed two RBI and scored three times.
UNLV and Washington State play game three of the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
