Feb. 5, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - For the second consecutive game a UNLV rally came up short as the Rebels dropped their second consecutive game, losing 5-4 in 15 innings to Cal State Northridge on Saturday night.
Trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the 15th and down to their final out, Anothony Hernandez and Chris Bonnell both drew walks to keep the Rebels alive. Ryan Bird then laced a single to left field that allowed Hernandez and Braden Walker, who pinch ran for Bonnell, to score after the ball got by Matador outfielder Nick Mahin. The Rebel rally ended quickly though, as Walker was thrown out trying to advance to third.
UNLV dropped to 0-2 on the year, while CSUN improved to 2-0-1. Peter Eberhardt picked up his first win of the season (1-0) and Ivan Lopez earned his first save for CSUN. Chris Huseman (0-1) took the loss for the Rebels.
The Matadors struck first, plating two runs in the opening from off of UNLV starter Derek Rodriguez. Michael Paulk drove in two runs with a no-out, RBI double. CSUN threatened to blow the game wide open in the first as the Matadors had the bases loaded, with no outs and a 2-0 lead after John Viota was hit by a pitch and Luke Riordan singled following Paulk's double. Rodriguez settled down for the Rebels, as he got a ground out, a strike out and a fly out to end the inning.
UNLV scratched out runs in the fourth and the sixth to tie the game, as CJ Lang and Albert Zerega each hit RBI singles.
Until the dramatic 15 inning, pitching took over the game for both squads. After the first Rodriguez pitched five shutout innings for the Rebels, and he was backed by another five scoreless innings from Efren Navarro Jr. and Alex Chalfant. CSUN was just as dominant, as four pitchers allowed just the two lone runs in 14 innings of work. Both teams combined to leave 36 runners on base (UNLV 20, CSUN 16) as both teams struggled to score runs until the dramatic 15th inning.
Mahin led off CSUN's 15th with a single and then the Matadors loaded the bases off a Jeff Tezak walk and a single by Erik Hagstrom. Rebel senior Kyle Tabeek then relieved Huseman, but a passed ball by catcher Justin Tellam allowed Mahin to score from third, giving the Matadors a 3-2 lead. Drew Agualiar then gave the Matadors two valuable insurance runs with a single, pushing the lead to 5-2.
UNLV and Cal State Northridge play the final game of their three-game set Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. (PST) at Earl. E. Wilson Stadium.
