Feb. 26, 2006
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - For the second-consecutive game UNLV baseball scored a plethora of runs, beating Eastern Michigan 23-5 on Sunday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium for the Rebels first winning streak of the season.
Led by a 5-5 effort by centerfielder Zach Borba, the Rebels rapped out 23 hits to improve to 3-8, scoring the most runs in a game since 24 in a win over Air Force last season. Yesterday the Rebels scored 18 runs against EMU and scored seven in the series opener in what was the biggest offensive weekend for the Rebels this year. Matt Wagner (1-0) came out of the bullpen in the fourth inning and worked four innings to pick up the win, his first decision the young season. Eastern Michigan dropped to 2-5 and Eagle starter Matt Shoemaker (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine runs on six hits.
UNLV had a 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the fifth after the Eagles had cut into a four-run deficit by scoring three times in the fourth and once in the fifth before the Rebels took control.
With one out and the bases loaded CJ Lang hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Braden Walker to make the margin 6-4 with two outs. Borba followed with an RBI single that chased Shoemaker and brought in Dan Puls from the Eagle bullpen. Puls would not record an out though, giving up four singles and tossing a wild pitch as the Rebel lead ballooned to 13-4, all but ending the game.
UNLV score two more runs in the inning and then added in the sixth and then six in the eighth to win going away. In the six-run eighth Keith Smith hit is first home run of the season for the Rebels, a two-run shot to left field that made the score 19-5. Latter in the inning Lang hit a two-run double to put the Rebels over the 20-run mark.
The game got off to a strange start for the Rebels, who scored three runs in the opening frame but did so without recording a hit. Borba was hit by a pitch to begin the game and then Shoemaker walked three, hit a batter and saw his defense commit an error as UNLV raced out to a 3-0 lead.
After he was hit in the first inning, Borba had three singles and two doubles, driving in one and scoring four times. Chris Bonnell had two hits, scored three times and drove in four runs and Smith finished the afternoon 3-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. For the second consecutive game Walker scored four times and Lang had four RBI as well.
Kevin Skogley got the start for the Rebels and the left hander pitched effectively, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four but did not pitch long enough to qualify for the win.
UNLV returns to the road to play UC Irvine on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. (PST) in Irvine, Calif.
