May 13, 2006
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball survived five errors and rallied by scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat New Mexico 11-10 on senior day at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on a hot Saturday afternoon.
Senior second baseman CJ Lang knocked in the game-tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning and then Keith Smith drove in Lang with a double to center field that pushed the Rebels in front at 10-9. Chris Bonnell followed with a single to score Smith and cap the three-run rally, putting UNLV up 11-9 heading into the top of the ninth.
New Mexico threatened to tie the game, scoring a run with two outs on an error by Rebel centerfielder Ryan Kowalski, the eighth of the game between the two teams. But following the error Rebel right-hander Matt Luca got a ground out to end the game.
UNLV improved to 23-28 on the year and 8-10 in Mountain West Conference play in winning its fourth straight game while Luca improved to 3-4 on the year. UNM dropped to 28-23, 10-8 in league action with the loss.
It was a back-and-forth game, as the Lobos scored four runs in the top of the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and move ahead 6-2 behind a solo home run by Ian Hollick and a three-run shot by Ryan Barba following an error that would have gotten the Rebels out of the inning giving up only one run.
The Rebels answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, as Braden Walker hit a run-scoring single and Zach Borba added a two-run double to pull UNLV within one at 6-5.
From there the teams would trade runs in each of the next three innings heading into the pivotal eighth, where UNLV took its first lead of the game.
Thanks to three Lobo errors, UNLV was able to get to UNM starter Danny Ray Herrera, who entered the game 9-0 in 14 starts with a 2.26 ERA on the year. Herrera gave up eight runs, only three earned though, on 11 hits before leaving after the seventh inning. Chad Itokazu took over in the eighth but gave up the three Rebel runs on four hits.
Lang finished the game 3-5 with a run score and the clutch RBI while Smith was also 3-5 and Bonnell and Albert Zerega Jr. each had two hits on the afternoon. Efren Navarro Jr. got the start for the Rebels and worked four innings, giving up six runs, just two earned on 10 hits. Holilck finished the game 4-5 with three RBI for UNM while Barba had two home runs and drove in four run.
UNLV and New Mexico wrap up their series Sunday afternoon on Mother's Day, and tickets will be 3$ for all ladies who attend tomorrow's game as the Rebels go for the sweep of the Lobos. The game is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) and fans can also listen live on KSHP 1400 AM with Jon Sandler handling the play-by-play.
NOTES: The eight seniors honored before Saturday's game were: Jabe Beard, Ryan Bird, Eric Brock, Mike Cruz, CJ Lang, Matt Luca, Matt Wagner and Albert Zerega Jr.
