March 6, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Despite a strong outing from starter Matt Luca the Rebels' offense did not back him as UNLV dropped its third-straight game Sunday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, losing 3-1 to Florida Atlantic.
Luca gave up just three runs, two earned and struck out five in 7.1 innings of work but saw his record fall to 0-4 as UNLV's offense left 10 runners on base. Mark Culp earned the win for his first decision of the year for FAU, coming out of the bullpen in the seventh to help stem a Rebel rally. Mickey Storey worked the final two innings of the game for his second straight save and third overall in 2005.
With the loss the Rebels stand at 3-13 on the season while FAU improved to 9-4 with the three-game sweep.
It was a pitcher's duel through the first seven innings of the game, as Luca and FAU starter Will Mann kept opposing hitters off balance throughout the early stages of the game. Mann made his second start of the series after working the first two innings of Friday's series opener between the two clubs that was suspended due to rain.
FAU broke through to score the game's first run in the fourth inning, using three singles by Jonathan Shapland, Brian Lipman and Robbie Widlansky that gave the Owls a 1-0 lead.
UNLV knotted the score in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded, threatening to blow the game wide open.
Efren Navarro Jr. and Ryan Kowalski singled with one out and after a strikeout CJ Lang singled down the left field line to score Navarro Jr., evening the game at one. Zeke Parraz then walked to load the bases, causing FAU to bring the left-handed Culp out of the bullpen. UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith countered that move by pinch-hitting right-handed Willie Bowman. Culp got the best of the match-up though, striking out Bowman to end the inning.
FAU then tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth to grab a 3-1 lead, a margin they would not give up.
The inning started with a single by Justin Martin, who then was removed from the game for pinch-runner Alex Silversmith, who advanced to second on a sacrifice ground out. Tim Mascia then drew a walk, bringing up Shapland with runners on first and second.
Shapland ripped a double to right that scored Martin and moved Mascia to third, who then scored on the play after Rebel first baseman Chris Bonnell misplayed the throw in from right field.
Storey struck out the side in the eighth inning but ran into trouble against UNLV in the bottom of the ninth.
JC Sibley hit a double into the gap in left-center field and then Ryan Kowalski followed with a single, giving the Rebels runners on the corners with no outs. Storey settled down though and got infield pop outs from Bonnell, Lang and Parraz to end the game.
After playing nine of its last ten games at home, UNLV hits the road for five games beginning with a three-game set next weekend against California in Berkeley, Calif.
