April 25, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - The trouble started in the first inning for the UNLV Rebel baseball team (25-16, 12-5 MWC), as they fell 12-4 to New Mexico (17-20, 13-5 MWC) on Sunday Afternoon. With the loss, the Rebels fall into second place in the Mountain West Conference standings, a half-game back of the Lobos.
Rebel starter Matt Luca (5-4) was unable to get on track as he walked four batters in the first inning and lasted just one and one-third innings, picking up the loss for the Rebels. The sophomore right-hander yielded four earned runs on four hits while walking four and striking out one.
The Lobos benefited from seven solid innings from starter Cooper Eddy (4-3) as he allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking three en route to his fourth win of the season.
Leading 4-0, the Lobos tacked on five runs in the top of the seventh inning, including a two-run shot over the wall in right field by designated hitter/closer Joe Salas, his seventh of the season.
UNLV finally made it on to the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh as left fielder Ryan Bird scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Ryan Kowalski. Shortstop Peter White then scored on a fielder's choice ball hit by first baseman Eddie Gill, making the score 9-2.
Trailing 12-2 in the ninth, the Rebels started to mount a two-out comeback as they got back-to-back solo home runs from Nielsen and Gill. For Nielsen, it was his fifth of the season, while Gill's home run was his third. The rally would come up short as designated hitter Chris Bonnell lined out to center field to end the game.
Nielsen ended the game a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with 1 RBI. Center fielder Andrew D'Angelo was also perfect at 2-for-2, while third baseman Zeke Parraz was 2-for-3.
For the Lobos, catcher A.J. Spitaleri was 3-for-5 with 3 RBI while Salas finished with 4 RBI on the day. Shortstop Josh Mader and left fielder Sean Murray were also 3-for-5.
The Rebels will head to Colorado Springs next weekend for a three-game series against Air Force that begins on Friday.
