Feb. 12, 2006
Final Stats
FULLERTON, Calif. - Once again UNLV baseball hung with No. 9 Cal State Fullerton, but the Rebels could not muster enough offense in losing 3-1 Sunday afternoon to the Titans.
The loss concluded the three-game series between the two clubs at Goodwin Field and it dropped UNLV to 1-5 on the season after road trips against then-No. 13 Pepperdine last weekend and CSF this weekend. The Titans improved to 3-3 on the year.
UNLV starter Chris Saddoris (1-1) pitched well in his second start of the year for the Rebels but was charged with the loss, giving up all three runs in his six innings of work. He gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked three. Lauren Gagnier (1-1) worked 6.2 innings and gave up the lone run to collect the win and Vinnie Pestano pitched the final 2.1 innings Sunday to earn his first save of the season.
As it did yesterday, UNLV grabbed an early lead Sunday, scoring a run in the top of the second inning to go ahead 1-0. Ryan Bird led off the inning with a double and then moved to third on a fly out. CJ Lang was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners and Bird scored on a single by Braden Walker that moved Lang all the way to third. That would be all the Rebels would get out of the rally, as Zach Borba struck out and then Lang was picked off to end the inning.
CSF answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame as Danny Dorn and Jared Clark led off with singles and then Dorn moved to third on a fly out. Dorn then later scored on a sacrifice bunt to even the game at one.
After three scoreless innings the Titans broke through for a pair of runs off Saddoris in the bottom of the sixth.
Bryan Harris drew a walk to start the pivotal inning, moved to second on a sacrifice groundout and then advanced to third following an error Rebel shortstop Mike Cruz. Harris scored on a balk by Saddoris, moving the Titans back in front at 2-1. CSF then doubled its lead on back-to-back doubles to push the margin to 3-1.
Chris Bonnell wrapped up a strong series at the plate for the Rebel first baseman, as he accounted for two of UNLV's six hits in the game. In the three-game series Bonnell had five of the Rebels' 17 hits.
UNLV continues its season with another road series, traveling up north to Reno, Nev., to face in-state rival Nevada, Reno for a three-game set with the opening game Feb. 17.
