March 5, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - For the second time in three games UNLV's offense failed to produce a run, losing 5-0 Saturday afternoon to Florida Atlantic in the first game of a doubleheader at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The game originally started Friday night but was suspended due to rain in the top of the third inning with FAU leading 2-0.
Will Mann started the game for the Owls and worked two innings before the rains came Friday and then Mike Crotta tossed seven scoreless frames to get the win for FAU, which improved to 7-4. Derek Rodriguez (0-2) started the game Friday for the Rebels and continued to pitch on Saturday, giving up five runs, three earned in seven innings of work to take the loss. UNLV dropped to 3-11 on the season.
The two shutouts this season marks the first time since the 2002 campaign that the Rebels have been held scoreless in two games in one season. The Owls scored their first two runs of the game on Friday night in the top of the second inning, 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.
Once the game resumed Saturday the two teams played two scoreless innings before FAU added another three runs in the top of the fifth.
FAU plated those runs in the frame off an error, a single and a sacrifice fly to push the margin to 5-0. Errors hurt the Rebels, as they committed three, leading to two unearned runs.
Sophomore catcher Justin Tellam led the Rebels offensively with two doubles in three at-bats but UNLV left seven runners on and could not bring a runner across the plate.
