Feb. 12, 2005

Final Stats

AUSTIN, Texas - For the second consecutive game UNLV gave No. 1 Texas all it could handle, as the Rebels entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 6-3 lead only to lose 7-6 to the Longhorns at Disch-Falk Stadium.

The Rebels began the top of ninth inning with a 5-3 lead and had the bases full with no outs after drawing three consecutive walks. But after Zeke Parraz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to bump the lead to three runs, UNLV couldn't add to it, as Tyler Beranek grounded into an inning-ending double-play.

That three run edge was not enough.

The Longhorns scored four runs before an out was recorded, with Bryan Herrera scoring the winning run after Chance Wheeless singled with the bases loaded.

Clayton Stewart earned the win for UT, moving his season record to 3-0. Efren Navarro Jr. took the loss for UNLV, his first decision of the season. UNLV is now 1-4 on the season, with all four loses coming by one run. The top-ranked Longhorns improved to 6-0.

UNLV grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning, after CJ Lang reached on an error to start the game and then scored two batters later on an RBI groundout by Beranek. Texas tied the game in their half of the third inning when Calvin Beamon scored from second on a double by Carson Kainer.

The Rebels then exploded for four runs in the fifth. Albert Zerega led off the inning with a triple, and UNLV loaded the bases after JC Sibley walked and Lang legged out a bunt single. Parraz knocked in two runs with a double and Beranek drove in his second run of the game with a single. Matt Fry drove in another run with an RBI groundout, giving the Rebels a 5-1 lead.

Texas cut the lead in half in the seventh on a two-run home run by Seth Johnston. Both teams were kept off the board in the eighth, setting up the dramatic final inning.

After the Rebels added their insurance run in their half of the ninth, the Longhorns wasted no time cutting into the lead.

Drew Stubbs reached on an error to start the final frame, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Navarro. Johnston then singled up the middle, driving in Stubbs. Taylor Teagarden followed with UT's second two-run home run of the game, knotting the game at six. Herrera and Dooley Prince both drew walks and Kainer loaded the bases after reaching on a bunt, setting up Wheeless' game-winning hit.

Derek Rodriguez pitched 6.1 solid innings for the Rebels, allowing three runs, two earned, while walking five and striking out two. Parraz finished the game with two hits and three RBI in four at-bats.

UNLV and Texas wrap up their three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 13, with the first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (PST).