Feb. 9, 2007

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - Once again on a Friday night, UNLV baseball rallied and had a chance to knock off a top-25 opponent but fell short in the bottom of the ninth, losing to No. 9 Cal State Fullerton 5-4 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

With runners on first and second and only one out, Rebel second baseman Keith Smith was at the plate and scalded a ball down the third-base line that Titan third baseman Bryan Harris corralled. Harris turned and started a game-ending 5-4-3 double play that allowed the Titans to escape with the win. UNLV saw its three-game winning snapped in falling to 3-4 while CSF won its fourth straight to open their season a perfect 4-0.

Just a week ago the Rebels gave then-No. 19 Pepperdine all it could handle in a 4-3 loss, and the 811 fans in attendance tonight saw a carbon copy of that effort from the Rebels.

UNLV reliever Chris Saddoris (0-1) took the tough loss as he was charged with two runs that the Titans pushed across in the top of the eighth that broke what was a tie ball game at three. CSF starter Wes Roemer (2-0) earned the win, going eight innings and giving up three runs, striking out seven and not allowing a walk.

The Rebels actually out-hit the Titans 12-8 but left seven men on base and outside of a 4-4 performance from Blake Gailen, who was a home run away from the cycle, UNLV could not come up with a game-changing hit. Gailen drove in a run, scored twice and stole two bases to go along with a triple and two doubles.

CSF got on the board first, getting an RBI double from Bryan Harris with two outs in the top of the second off of Heyer to grab a 1-0 lead. The Rebels battled back tough, with Gailen drilling a double to centerfield and later scoring on an infield single by Michael Brenly with two outs to knot it at one.

After giving up two doubles and a run in the second, Heyer settled down and went to work, striking out the side in the third and then retiring the Titans in order in the fourth thanks to a pick off to end the inning.

Heyer almost got out of the fifth unscathed if it was not for the hustle of Titan shortstop Joe Scott on a run and hit. Scott was on second with one out and took off running on the pitch from Heyer to Joel Weeks, who hit a slow roller to second. Smith went to first to get the second out and then Rebel first baseman Navarro Jr. wheeled and threw home to Brenly to try and get the runner. Scott slid in under the tag of Brenly, giving the Titans a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth.

UNLV had chances to put runs on the board, getting runners on second with just one out in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Rebels could not get to Roemer, who wriggled off the hook both times. Fullerton extended its lead in the sixth on an RBI single by Harris to left field that scored John Curtis, making it a 3-1 game.

The Rebels got to Roemer in the bottom of the sixth on a rally started by with a single by Chad Miller that brought Gailen to the plate with one out. Gailen hit a ball on a line over Clark Hardman's head in center to the wall for a triple that cut the lead to 3-2. Roemer struck out Willie Bowman looking on a slider that caught the outside corner for the second out of the frame. Brenly though, as he has done thus far this season, came through in the clutch, slapping a single to left field on a full count to knot the score at three.

Heyer got the first out in the seventh inning before giving away to Saddoris out of the bullpen, and the lefty delivered, getting a fly out to center and then a three-pitch strikeout to end the inning. He ran into trouble in the eight though, giving up a single and then committing a throwing error to put two Titans no base. Saddoris was relieved by Adam Moser following a sacrifice that moved the runners, and then he balked, bringing the first run home. CSF got a pinch-hit double by Nick Mahin that scored another, moving the margin to 5-3.

UNLV would not go quietly in the ninth, with Brenly starting the rally by reaching on an error and then moving to second on a ground out. Calvin Beamon singled in Brenly and then Braden Walker drew a walk off of Adam Jorgenson, bringing Smith to the plate. Jorgenson was able to induce the ground ball he needed for the double play, the only one of the night.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow, with the first pitch slated for 2:00 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. In a matchup of right-handers, Matt Hutchison will be on the mound for the Rebels and he will face Titan starter Jeff Kaplan.