Feb. 9, 2001

LOS ANGELES - The UNLV baseball team jumped out to a 2-0 lead over UCLA, but eventually fell to the Bruins 6-2 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday. UNLV drops to 2-2 on the season, while UCLA improves to 4-2.

Freshman Giovanni Pupo (1-1) pitched well in six plus innings of work, but picked up the loss for the Rebels. Pupo gave up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven. Jared Bonnell finished the game, pitching 1.2 innings and giving up two runs on two hits. UCLA's Josh Karp earned his first win of the season, giving up no runs in six innings and striking out eight.

Tony Schuler led the Rebels offensively, going 2-for-4 with one run scored. Ryan Ruiz, John Cruz and James Nepa each managed a single hit. Nepa's late inning pinch-hit single brings him to 4-for-4 for the season.

Trent Kitsch, who was named the MLB Canada Player of the Week, went 0-for-4 but drove in one run.

UNLV and UCLA kick off game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on KSHP AM 1400.