June 5, 2005

Final Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. - As it did in the opening game of the 2005 Tempe Regional, UNLV baseball jumped out to an early lead against Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon, but another big inning, this one a nine-run fourth inning, cost the Rebels in their 14-10 loss to the Chanticleers.

UNLV ended its season with an overall record of 35-29 while CCU improved to 50-15 and advanced to play Arizona State in the regional championship game at 3:00 p.m. (PT) at Packard Stadium.

In the opening game of the regional played between these two teams the Rebels gave up seven runs in the fifth inning to the Chanticleers which proved to be too much for UNLV to overcome in its 12-8 loss. CCU's big rally on Sunday came an inning earlier but was just as devastating to the Rebels.

Adam Vrable started the fourth with a single that hit the leg of UNLV starter Koji Pupo and then CCU hit two more singles to load the bases. Mike Costanzo hit an RBI single that drove in one and Michael DeJesus followed with a bases-clearing triple that made the score 8-4 and ignited the Chanticleer run barrage. By the time the Rebels got out of the inning they had allowed nine runs on eight hits, used three pitchers as 14 CCU batters came to the plate and trailed 13-4.

Pupo (5-1) took the loss, giving up eight runs, seven earned on seven hits in three innings of work. Kevin Salmon worked 2.1 innings to earn the win, moving his record to 1-1 after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of relief. Costanzo worked the final two innings for CCU and also went 3-6 at the plate with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored while playing first base.

UNLV actually out hit CCU 18-14 in the game but the Rebels left 14 men on base and seven Rebel pitchers walked 10 batters and hit three others to help the Chanticleers. In three regional games UNLV stranded a total of 39 runners with 29 of those coming in two games against CCU.

UNLV jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first inning as the Rebels scored four runs to counter the Chanticleers, who scored the game's first run on a bases-loaded walk.

JC Sibley led off the game for the Rebels with a double after the CCU fielder's lost his pop fly in the sun and then Mike Cruz drew a walk to put two men on. Chris Bonnell drove them all in a batter latter, drilling his second home run of the regional over the left-center wall for a 3-1 Rebel lead. The margin grew to three runs on a Justin Tellam single that drove in Ryan Bird, giving UNLV a 4-1 lead.

Bonnell terrorized CCU pitching, going 8-12 with two home runs and six RBI in two games and he finished the regional 10-16 with a total of eight RBI in three games.

CCU tied the game in the third, plating three runs on a RBI single by DeJesus, a sacrifice fly by Aaron Verrett and the final run in the rally came on a throwing error by UNLV shortstop Zeke Parraz that allowed Jon Foisy to score from second with two outs.

UNLV battled back though, cutting what once was a nine-run deficit to four and had the tying batter in the on-deck circle before Beranek struck out to end the game. Parraz went 2-6 and scored two runs in his final game in a Rebel uniform while Bird had his best game of the regional, going 4-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

UNLV is now 9-20 all time in the NCAA Tournament and 5-8 in regionals held in Tempe, Arizona.