April 2, 2004
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif - After starting Mountan West Conference play with six straight wins, the UNLV baseball team (19-9, 6-1 MWC) dropped its first conference game of the season as they were defeated by the Aztecs of San Diego State (17-18, 6-1 MWC) 8-2 on Friday night. The Rebels failed to take advantage of their opportunities as they left nine runners on the bases in the game.
San Diego State put up a run in each of the first two innings to jump out to the early 2-0 lead. In the first, designated hitter Brock Ungricht's RBI single to right field scored center fielder Landon Burt. In the second, second baseman Kyle Floquet scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Burt.
The Aztecs took advantage of a walk and a hit batsman in the sixth inning, as they posted two more runs. Catcher Jordan Swaydan drove a ball down the right field line scoring left fielder Josh Hill who had reached base on a walk by Rebel reliever Koji Pupo. Third baseman Chad Corona, who was hit by a pitch, then came around to score on a RBI fielder's choice by Floquet.
Ungricht his first home run of the year in the seventh, as he knocked a ball over the wall in right center, a two-run shot that gave the Aztecs a 6-0 advantage. Catcher Jordan Swayden's 2 RBI single later in the inning game the Aztecs a 8-0 lead.
The Rebels threatened several times in the middle innings, but they stranded runners on third base in both the sixth and seventh innings.
UNLV finally made its way on to the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, as Brent Johnson took the first pitch of the inning deep over the wall in left, his fourth of the year. Freshman catcher Justin Tellam's RBI single to left field later in the inning scored right fielder Eric Nielsen making the score 8-2.
Johnson finished the game 3-for-5 with 1 RBI and one run scored, while shortstop Peter White was 2-for-4.
UNLV starter Matt Luca (5-2) was charged with the loss for the Rebels. Luca went five innings, giving up two earned runs off of four hits while walking out four and striking out six.
San Diego State's Scott Shoemaker (5-5) picked up the win, going seven innings while giving up just one run off of seven hits while waking striking out five and walking none while Ungricht was 3-for-5 with 3RBI. Swayden finished 2-for-2 with RBI.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on KSHP AM 1400.
