May 14, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Junior Right fielder hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to propel the UNLV baseball team (30-19, 17-7 MWC) to a 8-6 victory over the University of Utah (20-29, 10-14 MWC) in the series opener on Friday night.

The Utes struck first in the top of the second as designated hitter Tyson Olsen scored on a throwing error by Rebel catcher Brad Ross.

UNLV answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a 2 RBI double by designated hitter Ty Soto. The Rebels added another run in the third, as left fielder Andrew D?Angelo scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Peter White.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels scored on an RBI single by D?Angelo and then added three more as Nielsen launched a towering three-run shot over the wall in left center, his tenth of the year, making the score 7-1.

Both teams added a run in the seventh, Utah?s coming on an RBI single by catcher Nate Schlieman while the Rebels scored on a sac fly ball hit by Nielsen, making the score 8-2.

Utah rallied in the ninth, picking up a run on a sacrifice fly by Matt Ciaramella and three more on a double to center field by Jared Pena, pushing the score to 8-6, but UNLV reliever Ben Schienbaum got Olsen to strike out, earning his third save of the season.

For the Rebels, Nielsen was 1-for-3 with 4 RBI while D?Angelo was 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Soto finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBI

The Rebels got a great start by right-hander David Seccombe (8-2), who went seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, while walking three and striking out six in the win.

For the Utes, Pena was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI while starter Jason Price (3-8) was charged with the loss.

The two teams will face off in a doubleheader tomorrow, with the first game beginning at 2:00 p.m., and the second to begin approximately thirty minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both games will be broadcast live on KSHP 1400 AM.