Feb. 4, 2007

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - UNLV sophomore Michael Brenly capped off a sensational series in dramatic fashion, hitting a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Rebels to a 7-6 victory over No. 19 Pepperdine on Sunday afternoon.

Brenly drove a fastball from Waves closer Brett Hunter back up the middle, bringing in Blake Amador from third base, clearing the Rebel dugout much to the delight of the 638 fans in attendance. UNLV evened its record to 3-3 on the year, while Pepperdine closed out its first series of the year with a 1-2 mark.

Designated hitter Chad Miller started the Rebel rally, drilling a double off the left-field wall to start the final frame. Head coach Buddy Gouldsmith brought in Amador to run and although Blake Gailen fouled out trying to sacrifice, the alert Amador moved to third on a wild pitch with Brenly at the plate. Brenly, who finished the series 4-9 with seven RBI, then delivered the clutch hit to end the game.

The two wins over No. 19 Pepperdine marked the second-straight time at home that the Rebels took two-of-three from a ranked team in a three-game series after the Rebels beat then-No 8 Texas twice last season at Earl E. Wilson.

Adam Moser (1-0) was also key in the win out of the bullpen, working the final 2.2 innings and not giving up a run in picking up his first victory of the year. The junior allowed just one hit while striking out one and walking a batter. Hunter (0-1) was charged with the loss for Pepperdine after giving up the hit to Brenly.

Early on both teams' offenses were running on all cylinders, with each squad scoring six runs through the first five innings of the game.

The Rebels struck first, pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom of the first with the big play a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Calvin Beamon led off with a single up the middle and on a two-two count, Braden Walker doubled to center field and Beamon, who was running on the play, scored easily to make it 1-0. Walker advanced to third on a fly out and then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Miller, moving the score to 2-0.

Following a scoreless second inning, UNLV scored two more in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally. Keith Smith hit a double and then Miller and Willie Bowman drew walks off of Dickmann, bringing Rebel sophomore catcher Brenly to the plate. Like he did the day before in the same situation, Brenly delivered, bringing in Smith and Miller with a single.

Rebel starter Kevin Skogley was cruising early on, retiring nine of the first 11 batters he faced through the opening three innings before running into trouble in the fourth.

Pepperdine scored three runs on four hits in the inning, as Travis Tartamella and Mark Tracy had RBI singles and Luke Salas put down a sacrifice bunt in the rally to pull the Waves to within one at 4-3. UNLV scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Waves came right back with three runs in the top-half of the fifth to tie the game at six, chasing Skogley. Pepperdine first baseman Ryan Heroy hit the first home run in the series, a shot over the left-field fence off of Skogley that knotted the game at six.

That would be the offense until the game-deciding ninth inning, as both team's bullpens came in and kept the offenses in check, although Walker nearly put UNLV up in the bottom of the eighth. The junior clobbered a ball with two outs that looked to be a home run, but instead hit a foot below the top of the left-field wall for a double. Smith fouled out to end the threat, setting up the dramatic final inning.

Brenly finished the game 2-4 with a double and three RBI while Beamon notched three hits and scored a pair of runs for UNLV on the afternoon. Pepperdine was led by Chase d'Arnaud's three hits.

UNLV remains at home next weekend, hosting No. 8 Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series that gets underway Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.