March 19, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Koji Pupo, Alex Chalfant and Wayne Foltin dominated on the mound for the Rebels as the trio held Air Force to just two hits in UNLV's 10-0 win Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
Pupo earned his first decision in five appearances, getting the win after working seven scoreless innings. Chalfant and Foltin then came out of the bullpen to finish what Pupo started, not allowing a hit in two innings of relief. It was the first shutout win for the Rebels this season.
UNLV won its second in a row and improved to 8-15, 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference. Air Force fell to 4-15, 0-2 in MWC play.
Pupo was un-hittable early, putting the Falcons down in order through the first three innings. He struck out the first two batters of the game and didn't run into trouble until the seventh, when Air Force loaded the bases with two outs on a hit batter, a single and a walk. Pupo dug in and got two pop outs to end the threat and turn the game over to Chalfant and Foltin.
For the second straight game the Rebels' offense backed a strong pitching performance, using 15 hits to score 10 runs Air Force.
After two scoreless innings UNLV broke through in the third for five runs in the frame. Mike Cruz singled, part of a 4-4 effort for the third baseman Saturday, to start the inning. CJ Lang followed by drilling a fastball from Falcons' starter Paul Pratt for his first home run of the season, putting UNLV ahead 2-0. Ryan Kowalksi singled, Zeke Parraz walked and after a fly out, Ryan Bird singled, driving in Kowalski. Chris Bonnell hit a single to center that was misplayed, allowing both Parraz and Bird to score, pushing the lead to 5-0.
UNLV pushed three more runs across the plate in the fifth with Parraz leading off the inning with a triple then scoring on a double by Matt Fry to start the rally. Bird then singled to drive in Fry and after Bird stole second, he was driven in by a single from the bat of Bonnell for an 8-0 lead.
The Rebels added runs in the seventh and eighth inning to cap the scoring.
UNLV will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown at 1:00 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
