Jan. 28, 2006
LAS VEGAS - The 2006 edition of the UNLV Rebels extended its winning streak over its alumni to four games with its 7-1 victory Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels were led defensively by a five inning effort by sophomore hurler Efren Navarro Jr. and recorded RBI from six different sluggers. The alumni were held off the scoreboard until the top of the ninth inning and only notched five hits against four Rebel pitchers.
The current Rebels jumped out to a 1-0 lead with help from a wild pitch by Jake Vose (2003-04) which scored junior Ryan Kowalski. The inning began with Kowalski hitting a triple to right. Senior Mike Cruz was at the plate when Vose uncorked the run-scoring pitch.
UNLV added to its lead with two runs in the fourth off of Derek Rodriguez (2005). Seniors Ryan Bird and C.J. Lang came across to push the lead to 3-0 following a sacrifice fly by junior Zach Borba and a single by Kowalski.
Navarro gave way to senior Eric Brock in the sixth inning, but not before he retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced, including 12-straight. Navarro allowed only two base runners in the game, a single to Ryan Ruiz (2001-04) to open the game and an error in the fifth off of the bat of Eric Ludwick (1993).
Kyle Tabeek (2004-05) entered the contest in the seventh and gave up a double to junior Chad Miller, who eventually scored on a double to left field by Bird.
In the eighth, sophomore Willie Bowman doubled off of Ryan Olson (1999-01) to right center. Cruz brought Bowman around on a one-out single to right.
The alumni put their only score up on the board in the top of the ninth with senior Matt Wagner on the hill. Jack Ayers (1981-84) led off the frame with a single to right center. Ayers moved to third off of a double down the right field line by Peter White (2003-04). With two runners in scoring position Robert Van Kirk (2002-03) brought Ayers home with a sacrifice fly to center. After a walk, Wagner struck out the final batter to end the game.
UNLV opens up the 2006 season next weekend in Malibu, Calif. The Rebels will play a three-game series at Pepperdine beginning Friday, Feb. 3.
