May 24, 2003

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE - The 18th-ranked and top-seeded UNLV baseball team earned the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship with a 14-9 victory over San Diego State on Saturday afternoon.

The win gives the Rebels their first MWC Tournament championship and first tournament title since winning the Big West Conference Tournament in 1996.

The Rebels rallied from an 8-1 deficit in the sixth inning, posting 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth, tying a MWC Tournament record for runs in an inning and setting a championship game record.

James Thompson (3-0) picked up the win for the Rebels. He gave up three runs off four hits in an inning work, and was the beneficiary of the ten-run sixth inning. Starter Giovanni Pupo went 5.0 innings, giving up five runs off eight hits.

SDSU's Mike Moat (6-6) suffered the loss. He gave up three runs off two hits in a third of an inning.

Tournament MVP Patrick Dobson went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Stephen Ghutzman also finished with three hits in the ball game. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

All-MWC Tournament Designated Hitter Eddie Gill went 2-for-5 with a home run. He finished with four RBI and two runs scored.

Three other Rebels, Eric Nielsen, Peter White and Robert VanKirk, added a pair of hits each. Nielsen and VanKirk were named to the all-tournament team.

Jake Vose, who threw a complete game against San Diego State on Friday, was also named to the all-tournament team.

In four games, the Rebels outscored their opponents 49-16 and set a conference tournament record for average margin of victory at 9.75 per game.

The win improves the Rebels to 45-15, the second most in school history, and secures UNLV a spot the NCAA Regionals beginning Friday, May 30 at 16 host locations around the country. Those locations will be announced exclusively on ESPN on Sunday, May 25. The announcement of the 16 sites will take place on a special NCAA spring championships studio show after Women's College World Series Game 11 but before WCWS Game 12. The show is expected to air at approximately 12 p.m. PT. The exact start time of the thirty-minute show will depend on the conclusion of the WCWS Game 11 airing on ESPN.

The 64-team bracket with regional pairings will be announced on ESPN2's selection show at 9:30 a.m. (PT) on Monday.

All-Tournament Team

Patrick Dobson, UNLV, Outfielder
Jordan Swaydan, SDSU, Catcher
Robert VanKirk, UNLV, Catcher
Cort Wilson, Utah, Infielder
Eric Nielsen, UNLV, Outfielder
Brock Jacobsen, BYU, Outfielder
Jake Vose, UNLV, Pitcher
Eddie Gill, UNLV, Designated Hitter
Anthony Gwynn, SDSU, Outfielder
Brady Martinez, Utah, Relief Pitcher
Landon Burt, SDSU, Outfielder
MVP: Patrick Dobson, UNLV