April 2, 2005

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - UNLV had two clutch two-out hits to put away San Diego State in the middle innings in the Rebels' 10-4 win Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium before 412 fans.

Chris Bonnell hit a two-run double with two out in the bottom of the fifth that broke a tie and gave UNLV a 5-3 lead. Then in the bottom of the sixth Mike Cruz added another clutch two-out hit, drilling his first home run of the season over the left-field fence with one on for a 7-3 lead.

Rebel starter Koji Pupo tossed six strong innings, scattering seven hits and giving up three runs, two earned, to move his record to a perfect 3-0. Alex Chalfant worked a perfect eighth to pick up his first save of the season. UNLV improved to 7-1 in the Mountain West Conference, 13-18 overall in 2005. SDSU dropped to 7-19 overall, 2-3 in league play. Alex Hinshaw took the loss for the Aztecs, falling to 1-6.

UNLV got on the board first, plating two runs in the bottom of the second, but the Rebels could have scored more as they had the bases loaded with no outs. After a strikeout JC Sibley drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single. CJ Lang then drew a walk that brought home Bonnell to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead. Mike Cruz struck out and Zeke Parraz grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

SDSU tied the game in the top of the third as Quintin Berry hit a one-out double and then scored on a single by James Guerrero. A single moved Guerrero to third and he then scored on a balk by Pupo, tying the game at two.

After the Aztecs grabbed the lead in the top of fifth on an RBI single by Brock Ubricht the Rebels responded with three in their half of the fifth, including the Bonnell's clutch double.

Lang started the inning with a double and then Cruz and Parraz were hit by pitches to load the bases. Justin Tellam hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Lang and after Ryan Bird struck out looking, it brought Bonnell to the plate with two out and two on.

Bonnell laced a double to the right-field gap that brought home Cruz and Parraz, giving the Rebels a 5-3 lead.

The very next inning, with Lang on first with two outs, Cruz added to the lead, hitting his first home run of the year over the left-field fence off of Hinshaw for a 7-3 UNLV lead.

SDSU added another run in the seventh before the Rebels iced the game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a RBI single by Bonnell to cap the scoring.

Bonnell finished the game going 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored while Cruz scored twice and was 2-3 on the afternoon.

UNLV will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon as the Rebels and Aztecs wrap up their three-game series at 1:00 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.