Feb. 19, 2006
Final Stats
RENO, Nev. - UNLV baseball lost its sixth-straight game, a tough 3-2 defeat Saturday to rival Nevada, Reno in the conclusion of a series that was shortened by a game due to snow.
Unable to play yesterday's game because of bad weather, the Rebels tried to gain a split of what became a two-game set but could not muster enough offense in yet another chilly contest. UNLV out-hit UNR 13-9 on the afternoon but only plated a pair of runs and saw three base runners thrown out at home, including the tying run in the top of the ninth inning.
UNLV starter Chris Saddoris (1-2) took the loss for the Rebels, who dropped to 1-7 on the year and are in the midst of their longest losing streak since dropping six in a row last season. UNLV has played its first eight games this year on the road and six of them have come against top-15 opponents. UNR improved to 3-5 on the year as Ryan Rodriguez (1-2) earned the win and Travis Sutton picked up his first save of the year.
Trailing 3-2 entering the ninth inning, CJ Lang was hit by a pitch and then stole second with one out, giving the Rebels a runner in scoring position. Mike Cruz hit a single to right field and Lang tried scoring on the play, but was thrown out at home by UNR rightfielder Shawn Scobee, keeping the lead at one. Cruz was then forced out at second on a fielder's choice, ending the game.
The Rebels got on the board first, pushing across a run in the second inning on three-straight singles and a UNR error.
Chad Miller and Ryan Bird led off the frame with singles and then Zach Borba added a single-base knock of his own that scored Miller to give the Rebels' a 1-0 lead. UNR leftfielder Daniel Eastham's throw back in was wild, allowing Bird to move up to third, giving UNLV runners on the corners and no out. After a groundout Michael Brenly singled to right field and Bird tried scoring on the play, only to be thrown out by Scobee. Blake Gailen struck out swinging to end the frame and what looked to be a big inning turned out to produce only one run.
UNR scored the next three runs of the game, plating single runs in the bottom of the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to go up 3-1. Following the Wolf Pack's run in the fourth inning, UNLV had a chance to retake the lead with runners on second and third with one out, but Miller was thrown out at home trying to score on a ground ball to short.
UNLV will be back in action next weekend as the Rebels make their home debut, playing a three-game series against Eastern Michigan with the first game slated to get underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
