May 14, 2005
Final Stats
PROVO, Utah - UNLV baseball's lead over BYU in the Mountain West Conference standings was trimmed to a single game after the Rebels lost 12-7 to the Cougars on Saturday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Stadium.
With the loss the Rebels dropped to 20-7 in the MWC, 26-26 overall on the year while BYU improved to 19-8 in league play, 35-16-1 on the year. UNLV still controls its own destiny in the chase for the MWC regular season title and if the Rebels sweep Utah at home next weekend, UNLV will win the regular season title. In order to even have a chance to tie for the regular season title BYU needs the Rebels to drop at least one game against Utah. The Cougars close out their regular season on the road against San Diego State.
Saturday's game started off well for the Rebels as they scored the first four runs of the game over the opening two innings.
In the first Chris Bonnell hit a double that scored Zeke Parraz and then Ryan Bird hit a single to drive in Bonnell, giving the Rebels an early 2-0 lead. UNLV added another pair of runs in the second inning on a two-run home run by Tyler Beranek, the freshman's seventh of the season.
BYU regained the lead in the bottom of the second, roughing up Rebel starter Derek Rodriguez for five runs in the inning. Ben Saylor started the rally with a RBI single, Ryan Chambers hit a two-run double and Sean McNaughton added a two-run home run in the inning for the Cougars.
UNLV jumped back ahead two innings later, scoring three runs to move back in front at 7-5. Mike Cruz had the big hit in the inning, a two-run single with the bases loaded that scored Beranek and Justin Tellam.
It was not long before BYU took the lead for good as the Cougars responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 9-7 advantage. BYU used three run-scoring singles and also manufactured a run on a fielder's choice. The Cougars added a run in the sixth and another pair of runs in the seventh for the final margin.
Beranek finished the game going 3-4 with the home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Rodriguez (4-5) took the loss for the Rebels as he gave up nine runs, eight earned on nine hits over 4.1 innings of work. Mitch Wolf (2-3) worked the final five innings of the game for BYU, allowing just one hit while striking out six to earn the win.
UNLV returns home for a Tuesday night non-conference game against Western Illinois which starts at 6:30 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels will then wrap up their regular season with a three-game series against Utah that starts Thursday.
