April 15, 2005

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - UNLV starter Matt Luca went just one inning before leaving the game and the bullpen gave up eight runs the rest of the way in Rebels' 9-5 loss to Utah on Friday afternoon at Franklin Covey Field.

Luca gave up the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning on a RBI single by Joe Mozeleski that scored Ryan Khoury, who singled with one out and then moved to third on another single. Luca didn't return for the second inning and Rebel relievers allowed eight runs over the next eight innings.

UNLV dropped to 15-22 on the year, 9-4 in the Mountain West Conference. With the win Utah moved to 12-20, 5-8 in league play. Efren Navarro Jr. (1-3) was charged with the loss, tossing four innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, including two home runs. Jason Price (2-6) earned the win for Utah, allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings of work.

Utah added two more runs in the third inning on a two-run home run by Jay Brossman off of Navarro Jr., making the score 3-0.

Chris Bonnell then knotted the game at three in the top of the fourth, drilling his fifth home run of the season with two men on. Zeke Parraz and Justin Tellam led off the inning with singles and after a strikeout, Bonnell hit a 0-1 pitch over the fence in left-center field to tie the game.

The Utes regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with another two-run home run, this one off the bat of John Welsh that came with two out. Utah added another three runs in the seventh inning, with all of them coming with two outs in the frame, to extend the lead to 8-3. Mozeleski hit a two-run double to plate the first two runs and then Trevor Eastman laced a single that scored Mozeleski.

UNLV cut into the lead in the top of the eighth and had the tying run at the plate before the rally was stopped.

JC Sibley led off the inning with a single and Mike Cruz followed with a single of his own that moved Sibley to second, who then moved to third on an error. Parraz hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Sibley and then Tellam followed with a double to left field that scored Cruz to make the score 8-5. Ryan Bird drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out, bringing Bonnell to the plate.

The sophomore first baseman couldn't repeat what happened in the fourth inning however, hitting a line out to left field. Ryan Kowalski then grounded out to end the inning.

Utah added another run in the ninth on a double by Brossman that brought the score to 9-5. The double capped a strong day at the plate for Brossman, as he went 4-5 with three RBI, a home run and a double.

UNLV continues its series against Utah on Saturday afternoon with the second game set for 12:00 p.m. (PT).