March 4, 2005

LAS VEGAS - Friday's opening baseball game of a three-game series between UNLV and Florida Atlantic was suspended with one out in the top of the third inning due to rain.

The game will resume where it left off at 2:00 p.m. (PST), with FAU leading 2-0 in the top of the third. The two teams will then play the second game a half hour after the first game ends

Rain started falling at Earl E. Wilson Stadium shortly after the game was started and it turned into a down pour in the top of the third, forcing umpires to suspend the game until Saturday.

The Owls scored their two runs in the top of the second, loading the bases with no outs against UNLV starter Derek Rodriguez.

Brian Lipman led off the inning with a single for FAU, Robbie Widlansky was hit by a pitch and Jordan Hafer reached on an infield single to load the bags. Tim Mascia then hit what looked like a routine double-play ground ball to UNLV shortstop Zeke Parraz, but the senior had trouble getting the ball out of his glove and the Rebels didn't record an out on the play, leaving the bags full. Derek Hutton then drove in FAU's second run of the game on a fielder's choice that scored Widlansky and gave the Owls a 2-0 lead.

UNLV ended the rally with a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning, but could not score any runs before the rains came.

This is the second time this year that rain has kept the Rebels from playing on Friday and the second Saturday doubleheader at home. UNLV's series opener against Nevada, Reno on a Friday earlier this year was rained and moved to a Saturday doubleheader.